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Scams

Beware of the “Grandparent Scam” Hitting in Our Community!

Half a million American seniors were victims of fraud due to a Grandparent Scam

The “Grandparent Scam” is not something new, however lately it has been getting a lot of media coverage both nationally and locally. Montgomery County Sheriff, Rob Streck recently commented on the increase of scam reportings by the elderly. In a recent interview Streck expressed the need for the community to be very cautious and aware of these scams targeted towards the elderly. “The emotional manipulation involved in these scams is truly troubling. We urge residents to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of such calls before taking any action and to report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.” According to the Federal Trade Commission, “In 2022, nearly half a million American seniors were victims of fraud, losing $1,000-$1,800 on average”.

What exactly is the Grandparent Scam?

Typically, an elderly person is contacted, usually by phone, by a scammer posing as a grandchild in danger. They will try to convince the victim that they are in great danger and that they need their help in the way of money. Some of the common emergencies are that they were arrested and will be going to … Read More... “Beware of the “Grandparent Scam” Hitting in Our Community!”

“Scam Alert – Watch out!”

Military Consumers Suffer More Loses Financially From Fraud According To BBB Scam Tracker Report

Better Business Bureau Creates the “BBB Scam Tracker” For Businesses and Consumers To Report Both Successful and Attempted Acts of Fraud

Perhaps you have been getting emails, phone calls or texts either telling you to verify information or if you don’t your account will be suspended. Or maybe you have been asked by what appears to be a credible source that you need to be in contact with them in order to get your package delivered. Maybe you have been contacted by the “IRS” and “they” are informing you if you do not get in contact with them, you will be going to jail for non-payment. Or perhaps you receive a very official looking email with what appears to be the logo of a company you have used before, such as the Geek Squad or Amazon asking for you to update your financial information or risk having your account terminated.

Unfortunately, scams such as these are becoming all too common. So, who do you turn to if you think you are a victim or a potential victim of a scam? Your local Better Business Bureau is … Read More... ““Scam Alert – Watch out!””

Online Purchase Scams Most Reported Con During Holiday Season. Avoid Being Victimized with These Tips from the Better Business Bureau

The Top Holiday Scams to look for in 2022

Holidays are a time for shopping and gift giving. With all the shopping online and with social media, holiday scams are at an all-time high. Don’t be a victim of scams this holiday season. I have updated a blog post on this topic from 2021. There are always new scams as well as prior ones to be concerned about!

According to Forbes, these are some of the top holiday scams to look for in 2022. Scammers are creating new ways all the time to rip-off the public!

Gift Car Scam – Scammers take gift cards off the display at retail stores, scratch off the PIN code, write down the card number and PIN code and apply a new coating over the PIN code on the card. Once the card is purchased and activated, the scammer uses the card for personal use and the purchaser is left with a card with no available balance left to use.
Mail Theft – This has been a big problem lately especially in the Dayton area. Holiday envelopes are usually easy to distinguish, and scammer will steal from mailboxes, look for holiday envelopes and open

Tips to Avoid Holiday Scams

Online Purchase Scams Most Reported Con During Holiday Season. Avoid Being Victimized with These Tips from the Better Business Bureau

Holidays are a time for shopping and gift giving. With all the shopping online and with social media, holiday scams are at an all-time high. Don’t be a victim of scams this holiday season. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has just released their top 12 holiday scams to look out for. A great list! Here they are:

Misleading Social Media Ads

As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see items for sale from a small business. Sometimes the business even claims to support a charity to try to get you to order, or they offer a free trial. BBB Scam Tracker receives reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised. The 2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report found that online purchase scams were the most common cons reported to Scam Tracker and the category with the most victims. Do your homework and research the company before ordering.