Some NEW SCAMS to watch for in 2024: IMPOSTER SCAMS
An imposter scam is when a fraudster pretends to be someone else–with the intention of obtaining an individual’s money or personal information. Victims may be contacted through a phone call, text, email or other messaging channel. Examples:
Government Impersonation: the fraudster may pretend to be IRS, Immigration or law enforcement, and they may claim the victim owes money or has committed a crime. The threat of legal action or arrest is communicated unless immediate payment is made.
Tech support: an imposter pretends to be from a well-known technology company–Apple, Microsoft or others, and tells the victim their device has a virus or other issue. They offer to fix it for a fee, and may request remote access to the device. Once that access is granted, the scammer can steal sensitive data.
Romance scams: A fraudster will create a fake online profile on a dating website or social media platform and begin communicating with their victim. Over time, trust is built, and the victim thinks they’ve found love online. Eventually the imposter requests money–to cover travel expenses so they can finally meet in person. However, the victim never meets their online love–as they never existed.
Friend or Family impersonation scams: Imposters contact victims, posing as a family member or close friend in crisis. Generally they will ask for funds, claiming an accident, or a loved one has been arrested; exploiting the victim’s desire to help their loved one.
Work scams: A fraudster may impersonate a high-ranking employee, such as the President or CEO at the victim’s place of work. They instruct the victim to transfer funds to a fraudulent account as their on a work trip and lost their wallet.
HOW TO AVOID IMPOSTER SCAMS
- Verify Identities: before sending money or personal information to anyone (even if they are trusted) people should verify their identity. Scammers can falsify caller ID numbers, so if money is requested from friends or family, people should hang up and call them back to confirm it’s actually them.
- Don’t Rush: Acting in urgency is a warning sign. offer it as an option. Scammers want people to act quickly. Think the situation through. If someone threatens arrest, legal action or other consequences if they aren’t paid immediately, it’s likely a scam.
- Trust your instincts: If something seems to good to be true, it usually is. Scammers exploit emotions like fear, greed, or sympathy to manipulate their victims into sending money. Remain cautious and skeptical and refuse requests that seem suspicious.
If you’re the victim of a scam, you can file a report with the FTC and your local law enforcement. The report may help others avoid similar scams.