DON’T BE AN APRIL FOOL!
Don’t be fooled by scammers online, on the phone, or in the mail trying to get your data, personal information, money, and just about anything they want. We’ve talked about this before and it isn’t going away. PERIOD. Scammers are opportunists.
Whatever is in the news or being discussed on social media, they see as an opportunity to imposter a recognizable and respected organization or brand. The Internal Revenue Service is the leading impersonated organization, and some brands that scammers impersonate include Publishers Clearing House, Microsoft, Apple, and even the Better Business Bureau.
Ten Scams to Avoid
The ten riskiest scam areas of 2018 were employment, online purchase, fake checks/money orders, home improvement, advance fee loans, romance, tech support, investment, travel/vacation, and government grant. The Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org/scamtips says, “If you can remember these TEN THINGS, you can avoid most scams and help protect yourself and your family.”
Here is their advice:
■ Employment Scams: Don’t let the stress of looking for a job make you vulnerable. Be wary of on-the-spot offers or any payment required for an opportunity or training.
■ Online Purchase Scams: These scams often involve purchase and sales on eBay, Craigslist, Kijiji, and other direct seller-to-buyer sites. Be suspicious of checks and over-payments.
■ Fake-Check-Scams: Fake check and money order scams take many different forms, but the underlying con is the same. If someone you don’t know wants to pay you by check but wants you to wire some of the money back, beware!
■ Home Improvement Scams: Use caution when hiring a home improvement contractor. Con artists will take homeowners’ money and deliver slipshod work…or no work at all. See the Contractors State License
Board brochure, What You Should Know Beore Hiring a Contractor.
■ Advance-Fee-Loan-Scams: Any offer that promises a guaranteed loan for an upfront fee should raise red flags.
■ Romance Scams: Online dating and social media have made it easier than ever to meet new people and find dates. Unfortunately, Con artists can create compelling full-fledged identities and trick you into falling for someone who doesn’t exist. Then they ask for money, and more money, and eventually disappear.
■ Tech Support Scams: Scammers pose as tech support employees of well-known computer companies and hassle victims into paying for their “support.” This may come as a warning message on your computer with a link to click for help, or a phone call posing as a media provider.
■ Investment Scams: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
■ Government Grant Scam: A real government agency will NOT ask you to pay an advanced fee for a grant. If free money is offered for a fee, it’s a scam.
■ Travel and Vacation Scams: Timeshare and vacation rental scams promise quick sales and advantageous prices, but ask for advance payments by wire transfers or prepaid debit cards. Don’t do it!
With limited space here, I’ve only touched the surface but there’s lots more information for future thought. See a detailed listing A-Z of the worst scams at https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/the-ultimate-list-of-theyears-worst-scams/ or pick up the Better Business Bureau publication Top Scams Glossary, or see https://www.bbb.org/scamtips/
—Kent Wellbrock
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