It seems I have been given a nickname! As the Scam Alert Lady, it is my “job” to help you protect yourself against scammers. There are some basic things to consider.
You need to know that anyone can be scammed. Scammers will take advantage of people of any age, race, or ethnicity. They don’t care if you have an IQ of 130 or an IQ of 70. They don’t care if you’re frail, have hearing challenges or cognitive issues. It’s like the shingles vaccine ad: They don’t care!! They want your money and your personal information.
Get Scam Smart. Learn about the scams that are circulating. Be cautious. Don’t be quick to act. Use virus scans and Malware protection on your devices and make sure they’re current. Don’t share passwords or personal information.
Scamming is NOT a small-time thing. It’s big business. Billions of dollars (about $5.8 billion in 2021) are lost to scammers annually.
Scammers can be anyone. It can be a local person offering to fix your roof or take care of your grandma or it can be an international source from Korea, Turkey, or the Caymans.
Scammers are prepared. They upgrade their technology and it can be very sophisticated. Phone numbers can be spoofed. Thieves collect card numbers through credit card skimmers and use the recovered information to make fraudulent purchases. Scammers also sell potential target lists to other scammers.
They align scams with current events and holidays. There were Covid vaccine scams and Covid test scams are still out there. There have been scams related to relief for Ukraine. There are scams related to the earthquake in the Middle East. Check out the legitimacy of a charity at Charity Navigator and Guide Star. Consider donating to your favorite local charity.
Scammers are adept at hooking and reeling in their targets. Romance scammers and sales scammers will play whatever role is necessary. They will find out about you by listening and teasing out information that makes you feel ‘connected’ to them. What they want is your money, your personal information, and access to your accounts.
Be aware that scammers can come at you from all angles: email, text, landline, cell phone, snail mail, or in person. If you get an email or text, do not respond. Do not click on any links. Delete the message. If they call you, hang up. (Better yet – don’t answer the phone.) If you get snail mail, shred it and toss it.
Scammers are getting bolder and may show up at your door in the guise of a utility worker, a home repair person, or someone offering you a deal on resurfacing your driveway. They may also be posing as a representative of a church. Ask for identification. Don’t let them in your home.
Be aware that scammers have no scruples. They will lie to you, they will mislead you, they will threaten you, and they will take every penny out of an account and not care. Be proactive.
Stay safe!
