Robocalls. Robocalls, those automated calls that you often receive
on your phone, are annoying. They may originate not only from aggressive
telemarketers but also from scammers. The top three scams so far this year
include Google listing scams, loan scams, and free vacation scams.
In the Google
listing scam, scammers call small businesses and tell them that their Google
(or Bing or Yahoo) listing is not up to date. For a price, the scammer will offer
to help the small business update their listing.
Scammers will
call victims offering to help lower loan rates or threaten to arrest them for
loans that they claim are past due.
Other scammers
will call saying that you have won a “free vacation.” They then use high
pressure tactics to get credit card information for “taxes” or food and
beverage packages.
The Invulnerability Illusion. We often think of scam victims as being
people who are elderly, shut ins, or possibly immigrants. And while these
populations can be vulnerable to scammers and fraudsters, a Better Business
Bureau (BBB) survey finds that scam victims are not limited to those
populations.
The survey finds that most people
view scam victims as either pitied victims- vulnerable, elderly, or alone, or
scorned victims- stupid, ignorant or lacking in common sense. The BBB points
out scams are under reported due to the shame and stigma that is often
associated with being a scam victim. It finds that those who do speak up after
being victimized often are motivated with a desire to warn others of the
danger.
The survey found that those who
have been victimized by a scam or a fraud are often younger and better educated
that many of us might assume to be the case. The survey also finds that
knowledge of the existence of specific scams and frauds helps individuals to
protect themselves from becoming victimized.
As with other forms of criminal
activity, awareness helps all of us to take preventative measures that protects
ourselves from becoming victims.
Better Business Bureau:
Zika Scams. Scammers frequently try to take advantage of high
profile disasters to victimized honest people. The current publicity around the
Zika virus is no exception. According to an AARP scam alert, scammers are
pushing online offers for “miracle,” “dietary” or “natural” products that
supposedly prevent or cure Zika. Many times these fake offers come in emails
with alarming messages with “must-read” links that in reality launch computer
viruses. Other scammers are hocking investment opportunities for companies that
are supposedly developing products to stop Zika. And finally, scammers are
promoting charity scams that claim to help victims or to fight the disease.
AARP points out that there
currently is no vaccine to prevent the virus or a drug to treat it. Currently,
the only known victims of the virus from mosquito bites are in the Miami,
Florida area. The best protection from Zika is to prevent mosquito bites by
wearing long sleeves, long pants and using insect repellent.
If you receive an email with any
claims for “miracle” products, investment opportunities, or seeking support for
charities helping Zika victims delete it without clinking on any links.
AARP:
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