Here is an
update on some recent scams,
Donating for
Earthquake Relief. With all of the news about
the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria you may be motivated to donate to an
organization that says it provides earthquake relief. Scammers flood phones, social
media, and the web with appeals for help when a disaster makes the news. Like other
scams, charity scammers are not interested in helping people in need but in gathering
your personal information or stealing your money.
The Better
Business Bureau (BBB) recommends that you,
·
Contribute to experienced groups.
·
Look for charities with
on-the-ground presence.
·
Give money rather than goods.
·
Verify the charity’s
trustworthiness.
For more
information about giving to charities and charity scams check out,
Better
Business Bureau:
https://give.org/news/wise-giving-wednesday-donating-for-earthquake-relief-in-syria-and-turkey
Federal Trade Commission:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/all-scams/charity-scams
Washington Secretary of State (where you can search for charities
registered in the State of Washington):
https://www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities#nonprofits_charities
Valentine’s
Day Scams. With Valentine’s Day coming fast, you
may want to purchase a gift for your valentine, or you may want to find a
valentine. Here are some tips to avoid being scammed by someone who tries to break
your heart.
·
Imposter websites. Scammers can set up a website that looks like it is from a
legitimate organization, even using art and logos from real companies. Lookout
for products that are offered at deep discounts (“too good to be true”); sellers
wanting payment with a cash transfer app or cryptocurrency; customer service is
unreachable, even if they offer a customer service number.
·
Romance Scams. Scammers frequently take advantage of people looking for love or
even just someone to talk to. Some red flags of someone who might be taking
advantage of you include a fast-moving relationship; never meeting in person;
asking for money to help with a dire situation.
·
Wrong Number Scam. You might receive a text message from someone who seems to have
sent the text to your phone number in error. This is usually harmless, but if
the person at the other end keeps sending texts that might be an effort to get
your personal information. Look out for nonstop messages, the sender trying to
direct you to a website and the sender or the website asking for your personal
information.
·
Fake Florist Scam. Ordering and sending flowers is a great tradition for Valentine’s
Day. The Better Business Bureau has received numerous reports of shoppers ordering
flowers online and getting nothing or disappointing flower arrangements. Watch
out for no reviews or bad reviews for the business that you want to order from;
the business has no return policy or satisfaction guarantee; the deal is too
good to be true.
The Seattle
Times:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/tips-to-avoid-valentines-day-scams/
Chinese Impersonator
Scam. This scam will affect Asian citizens the most. The Bellevue
Police Department says that it is receiving reports of scammers claiming to be
Chinese officials or law enforcement. The impersonator will claim that the
potential victim is in some sort of trouble and to get out it the victim needs
to pay. The scammer may demand payment by money wire, purchasing and electronically
sending gift cards, or demanding that the victim withdraw cash then hand it over
to the scammer. The scammer may even send the victim official looking
credentials.
The police
department urges everyone, “Please do not reply or cooperate with anyone
claiming to be an overseas official asking you for money. If you don’t know them,
don’t trust them. Instead, call your local police department, and they will
check it out. It is better to take the time to verify than to be out thousands
of dollars.”
KIRO TV:
https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/bellevue-pd-sees-increase-scams-involving-chinese-officials-making-threats-asking-money/ETYQYT2ZJNE5VIHFSVEIA5NQ6Q/?taid=63e53f329b592b0001a97d91&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter
Search Spoofing
Scam. The National Cybersecurity Alliance has received several reports
of consumers downloading malware onto their computers as a result of clicking
on a search result link. Scammers will set up a web site that spoofs a web site
from a legitimate business or organization then pay search engines for advertising,
resulting in their spoofed website links showing up at the top of the list of
results. When someone clicks on the link, the website downloads malware,
ransomware or the scammer tries to involve the individual in some other scheme.
Be sure to be
careful before clicking on any link in your search results. Inspect the links to
ensure that they are legitimate. One thing to look for is minor misspellings in
the URL. This is a common method to fool you to go to a fake website. Also,
scroll down the list past the links marked as “Ads” to the unsponsored/non-ad search
results.
National Cybersecurity
Alliance:
https://staysafeonline.org/theft-fraud-cybercrime/avoid-search-engine-ad-malware/
