All articles tagged with #scam alert
Consumer experts warn about 'brushing' scams where scammers send unordered packages to boost seller ratings or steal personal info, advising caution with unexpected deliveries and to avoid sharing personal data or scanning QR codes.
Unsolicited packages from retailers like Amazon or Temu may indicate a brushing scam, where third-party sellers send items to generate fake reviews and boost product ratings. The Better Business Bureau advises documenting incidents, contacting retailers, and monitoring personal accounts to protect against fraud.
New Hampshire transportation officials are warning E-ZPass users in the state about a smishing campaign where scammers send text messages instructing people to pay a fake balance and directing them to a fraudulent website. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation emphasized that E-ZPass New Hampshire will never request payment through text messages.
Scammers are now using AI to create fake obituary websites, targeting grieving individuals and exploiting their vulnerability. By monitoring search trends and creating bogus obituaries hosted on legitimate funeral/memorial websites, scammers lure victims to adult entertainment sites or install web push notifications and pop-up ads. To protect yourself, avoid clicking on obituary pages if you have no connection to the deceased, be cautious of suspicious pages, and verify the authenticity of the obituary. Ethical responsibilities of online platforms and social media networks in safeguarding users from exploitative scams are questioned.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is cautioning E-ZPass users about a phishing scam involving text messages requesting personal financial information under the guise of "PA Turnpike Toll Services." The commission advises recipients not to click on any links and to use approved methods such as the official PA Turnpike E-ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app to check their accounts. Similar scams have been reported by toll agencies nationwide, and affected customers are encouraged to report fraudulent messages to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Pennsylvania officials are cautioning residents about fake text messages claiming recipients owe Pennsylvania Turnpike toll money, targeting E-Z Pass users with a link to a fake Turnpike website. The scam is a phishing attempt, and officials advise against clicking the link, emphasizing that the Turnpike does not use text messages for toll collection. Recipients are encouraged to file complaints with the FBI if they receive such texts.
Renato Calalang, a hardworking father who had diligently saved for retirement, fell victim to a sophisticated email scam, losing his entire life savings of almost $150,000. The scammers, posing as a bank representative, lured him with a fake inheritance claim, leading him to make multiple deposits into different bank accounts. Despite reporting the scam to Commonwealth Bank, he was unable to recover the funds. Calalang hopes to raise awareness and urges others to be cautious, while the bank advises customers to be vigilant and seek assistance if they suspect fraudulent activity.
The Federal Trade Commission warns of 10 common lies scammers use to deceive people and separate them from their money, including creating a sense of urgency, instructing victims to lie, and making threats of arrest or deportation. Other tactics involve asking victims to stay on the phone, move money, buy gold bars, withdraw cash, use Bitcoin ATMs, or purchase gift cards. The FTC advises people to avoid responding to these tactics, hang up, delete emails, stop texting, block numbers, and report possible scams to the agency.
A Miami man lost $42,000 in an Ethereum investment scheme that began with a romance scam on Instagram, using the photograph of a woman claiming to be a CEO of Estee Lauder. The victim made small investments and saw gains, but when he tried to withdraw the funds, he was asked to pay, and his money disappeared. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission reported that losses to romance scams totaled $1.14 billion in 2023, advising people to never send money to anyone they haven't met in person and to be suspicious of promises of increasing their nest egg.
Federal Trade Commissioner Lina Khan warned the public about scammers after a New York Magazine financial advice columnist revealed she handed over $50,000 to a mystery man who claimed to be an agency investigator. The scam involved voice phishing, where the scammer impersonated an FTC investigator and convinced the columnist to hand over the money under false pretenses. Khan emphasized that the FTC would never ask for sensitive information over the phone and urged caution.
As Valentine's Day approaches, the risk of falling victim to online dating scams increases, with scammers using bots and AI to create fake profiles and manipulate victims into sending money. Research shows a significant rise in bot attacks on dating apps, and in 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported falling victim to romance scams, resulting in $1.3 billion in losses. Warning signs of a potential scam include overly formal messages, inconsistent information, odd communication patterns, unrealistic photos, and requests for money. Experts advise using online tools to detect AI-generated messages and conducting image searches to verify profile pictures.
Residents in Southern California, particularly in Orange County, are receiving unsolicited and cheap items like necklaces in the mail, with some suspecting it to be a new form of the "brushing" scam where scammers send unordered items to create fake positive reviews. The FTC advises people to monitor their online shopping accounts for any unusual activity and report any unordered items received.
Scammers are using deepfake technology to create fake advertisements featuring celebrities like Taylor Swift, offering free products such as Le Creuset cookware sets. These ads lead unsuspecting consumers to fake websites where they are asked to pay for shipping, only to be charged additional fees with no products delivered. Similar scams have targeted other celebrities, prompting calls for regulation and accountability for deepfake creators, as platforms work to combat the spread of fraudulent content.
Users of Paypal are being warned about a scam targeting their accounts, as fraudsters are sending out fake emails and text messages claiming to be from the company. The scam messages ask recipients to click on a link and provide their personal information, including login credentials and financial details. Paypal advises users to be cautious and not click on any suspicious links, and to report any fraudulent activity to their customer support.
Police are warning Americans about the "card draining" scam, where scammers steal gift card information from the back of cards on display, wait for them to be activated, and then drain the funds. Consumers are advised to carefully check gift card packages for signs of tampering and to report any suspicious cards to store cashiers. To increase safety, it is recommended to purchase gift cards directly from retailer websites and use credit cards for added purchase protections.