Maaaannn... Scammers are out here scamming, and I would be heartbroken to learn that any of my WoodlandsMommy .com readers have gotten taken for a ride! I'm sure you've heard the stories. There's a whole culture of scamming that has been breeding for many years and has grown even worse with the use of payment apps and social media.
Guess what? You can be intelligent, educated, and not even remotely "naive" and still fall for a scam. These people are professionals, and they know ALL the tricks of the trade. Whether you're trying to purchase a new car, pay a deposit for a hair appointment, purchase secondhand tickets to a concert, redeem for a prize, or you're looking for love in all the wrong places... you can be smart and STILL fall victim to a scam if you don't keep your guard up.
I don't have a full 10 hours to write out an extensive list of all the scams that are out there, but here are some favorites (and by favorites, I mean ones that I like warning people about).
- Your "bank" calls you out the blue to verify some info in order to "protect" your account.
- You read an anonymous poster's message in a Facebook group - She's just "wanting to vent" about a hard time she's having, but the underlying tone screams "I'm hoping somone will ask me how they can send money to help me."
- You find a great online deal on a used piano / sofa / camera / car / (fill in the blank), and you send the cash via a mobile app so the person can hold it for you
- An heir to some made-up kingdom is in need of your help to withdraw money or help with a medical emergency, and you will be paid back 100-fold.
- You've won a prize, and all you have to do to claim it is to pay a nominal redemption fee via credit card (usually $1 or $2).
- You start an online romance with a man who is in love with you and promises to marry you, but first he needs some help paying a few bills. By the way, he's a medical doctor, claims to be a millionaire (but his money is frozen right now, which is why he needs your help), and the photo he sent you "of him" is drop-dead gorgeous.
- The email states that the mail carrier is having trouble delivering your package (although you're not even expecting a shipment). All you have to do is click the link to confirm some info.
- You've found a buyer on FB Marketplace for that purse you're selling. They ask if they can send you MORE money than what you're asking for, and you'll just need to send them back the difference.
- It's urgent! Someone you love is in jail or in trouble, or maybe your electric bill is overdue and power is being shut off TODAY. Pay by phone right now to rectify the problem!
- The job posting says no experience is required, allows you to work from home on your own hours, pays a ton of money and offers lots of paid vacation, but first you have to send in money to purchase the equipment.
The list goes on and on and on. So crazy! These are just a handful of the major scams going on in 2024.
HERE are a few tips on how to avoid these scams and others, courtesy of Experian.com:
- Block unwanted calls and text messages.
- Be skeptical when someone contacts you. If you suspect a spam/scam call, don't respond or press a button. The safest option is to hang up or ignore the call entirely. You can always look up the organization and initiate a call yourself if you're worried there may actually be an issue.
- Don't click unknown links.
- Enable multifactor authentication for your log-ins and devices.
- Resist the pressure to act immediately.
- Research companies before taking any actions. Before you make a purchase or send a donation, take a few minutes to review the company.
- Don't refund or forward overpayments.
- Look for suspicious payment requirements. Scammers often ask for payments via wire transfer, payment app, or gift card,. These payments can be harder to track and cancel than other forms of payment, which can leave you stuck without recourse.
- Create strong passwords for all your accounts.
