Scam Alerts

Scam Alerts submitted by the Residents’ Council Safety & Security Committee

Scam Alerts are a series of short reminders about online, telephone and mail attempts to defraud you, take your money or steal your identifying and account information.

Scam Alert: Malware
How can malicious code – malware – get into your computer?  The most frequent ways include clicking on a link to a website from which you download uninvited computer programs; downloading videos containing malware; accepting a pop-up invitation, e.g. to fix your computer; or allow a person to assume remote control of your computer without verifying their identity.

Security measures include avoiding clicking on links, even when they seem harmless; visiting only known, safe websites; ignoring the temptation to view shared jokes or videos, in emails or links, even from family and friends; closing pop-ups, and seeking only trusted sources for computer repair.  Always install updates when they become available, because “zero-day” threats can spread before fixes are distributed by Microsoft, Google, etc.  Use anti-malware, firewall and virus-blocking software.  Scan your computer for malware periodically.

Scam Alert: Bank and Credit
A common scam arrives in a text, email or telephone call that sounds exciting.  You have won a prize, someone has made an unauthorized charge on your account, Amazon is shipping you something you didn’t order, your bank balance has been overdrawn.  Perhaps Social Security, the IRS, the FBI or local sheriff is about to arrest you for an offense you did not commit.  You must act now!

Scammers know how to make us fearful or greedy.  The scammers want to get access to our bank and credit card accounts, even our Social Security, Medicare, tax returns or line of credit.  They demand immediate payment, often by gift card or credit card, to prevent some imagined disaster.  Do we really think the U.S. Marshall collects fines by gift card?

If you receive this kind of message, remain calm.  You should refuse to respond to a text, email or phone call with such a threat or prize.  If you are afraid that maybe you really do have a bank, credit account or government agency problem, contact them directly at a telephone number, website or email address that you know and trust.  Scammers will pretend to know you, and ask you to verify your account information, when it is they who are not to be trusted.  When in doubt, refuse to give out any information until you can be sure whom you are dealing with.

Scam Alert: Spam Phone Calls
Do you get several telephone calls daily from numbers that look like neighbors or 800 numbers?  So do we all.  Scammers program computers to make bogus calls, showing fake calling numbers.  They offer car warranties, threaten arrest, say you won a prize, claim to be from your bank or credit card company.  Their goal: to get your identification and account information, gain access to your money or sell you fraudulent goods or services.

Do not answer calls from numbers you do not know, unless you are expecting a call from a service provider or acquaintance.  If you answer, do not respond to the caller until they have verified their identity.  You should not say the word “yes” or give out your identifying information unless you are certain of the caller’s identity.  When in doubt, call them back on a number you have verified (not a number they give you).  Unfortunately, scammers are very convincing.  But you do not have to provide anything until you are sure you should.

How can you stop unwanted calls?  The FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry does not work for scammers.  Lately, the best hope is offered by telephone companies.  You can mute unknown calls, or just not answer, and let them roll over to voice mail.  Apps like Verizon’s Call Filter will identify and prevent scam calls from known or likely spammers.  The FCC and FTC are demanding that better filters be provided free by the telephone companies.  Still, we can expect bogus calls to continue for the time being.

Scam Alert: Online and Telephone Fraud Losses
What can you do, if you – like millions of others – lost money to an internet or phone scam?  There is a nonprofit agency funded by the federal government to take your complaint, and provide it to federal, state and local law enforcement in your jurisdiction.  It’s called the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), available at ic3.gov.  Just go online to make a complaint.  Some say, “Why should I complain?  I won’t get my money back.”  Perhaps not.  But without your complaint, law enforcement cannot track and trace the kinds of scams plaguing users.  Every month, arrests are made when police can identify the scammers.

One vicious scam involves a “grandchild” calling or texting due to an emergency, asking for money.  Western Union had to repay hundreds of millions of dollars sent to Mexico to scammers claiming to be a grandchild in need.  Lately, scammers have claimed a loved one has been kidnapped, and demanded gift cards, bitcoin or wired payments to release the victim.  The urgency of the apparent demand drives people to pay.  If you just try to reach the supposed victim, you will find that it was a scam.  Don’t let fear make you pay.  But if you pay, inform law enforcement immediately.

Scam Alert: My Online Friend
Many meet people online for dating, and many couples make friends online.  But with all the good comes criminal activities, even on dating and social networking websites.  A common scam presents a good-looking man or woman whose profile is attractive, but fake.  Exchanging messages leads to affection, perhaps even a proposal to meet or marry.  But never an in-person meeting.

Scammers, the FBI warns, take advantage of the lonely, the socially active online and often, older internet users looking for companionship.  They quickly develop a close relationship.  Then, despite claiming prosperity or even wealth, they suddenly need money, perhaps for a medical or legal emergency.  Can they borrow a few thousand dollars for a short time?  Thousands of Americans have been scammed out of money, thinking that a true online friend needs their help.

Should we be suspicious of everyone we meet online?  Unfortunately, yes.  If you want to get closer to someone you meet online, remember that affection, like photos, can be faked.  You should see danger signs if the person seems to need something from you, especially money.  While many have found spouses or significant others online, scam losses have exploded.  From 2020 to 2021, romance scam losses jumped from $605 million to over a billion dollars – and many scams went unreported.  The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, IC3.gov, takes reports on online scams.