Tagged: social media Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Geebo 9:00 am on March 1, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , social media, , Zoo tickets   

    Even zoos aren’t immune to scams 

    By Greg Collier

    If you live in a part of the country that’s experiencing warmer weather, you may be thinking about taking a family trip to the zoo. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be careful where you buy your tickets, as zoos and aquariums across the country are being used in a scam that’s circulating across social media.

    Ads have been appearing on Facebook and Instagram that claim to be offering a four pack of tickets to zoos for just $6.95. Each of these listings also claim that the ticket prices are so low because the zoo is celebrating a milestone anniversary.

    For instance, the scammers allege that the zoo in Honolulu is marking its 40th anniversary, while they claim the Pittsburgh Zoo is commemorating its 125th anniversary. Comparable fraudulent listings have been reported in various locations like Jacksonville, Florida, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Wichita, Kansas, among others. None of these zoos are actually marking any significant milestone anniversaries. The claims made by the scammers regarding anniversary celebrations are entirely fabricated.

    To further entice potential victims to click on their ads, the scammers assert that there’s a limited supply of tickets available. This creates a sense of urgency and prompts individuals to act quickly without thoroughly considering the legitimacy of the offer.

    One telltale sign that these listings are scams is that the ads are not posted by the zoos themselves. Despite using the logos of various zoos, the pages hosting the ads have generic names such as ‘Zoo Promo’, ‘Wildlife Jubilee’, and ‘Jungle Celebration’.

    Based on the information collected, it appears that the scammers are not only misleading victims with false offers, but also stealing their credit and debit card information. One victim reported unauthorized charges on their card, indicating that the scammers are exploiting these transactions to commit financial fraud.

    Most, if not all, zoos emphasize that the only legitimate methods for purchasing tickets are through their official website or directly at the front gate. Experts and authorities strongly recommend flagging any of these suspicious ads encountered on social media platforms to prevent further victims from falling prey to the scam.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on February 14, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , OMG It worked, , social media   

    Beware the eternal Facebook scam: “OMG It Worked” 

    By Greg Collier

    It’s the déjà vu of Facebook scams – the one that promises to rid your timeline of ads and magically restore lost friends. You know the one, the one that always starts with “OMG, it really worked!” and urges you to copy and paste it onto your own timeline. But does it really work? Spoiler alert: Absolutely not.

    Despite surfacing over a decade ago, this viral hoax is still making its rounds, and surprisingly, it’s being shared more than ever. But why? Well, for starters, some users genuinely believe there’s no harm in giving it a shot. After all, what’s the harm in trying? However, the reality is that sharing the post won’t grant you any magical Facebook powers. There’s simply no way to remove ads or regain lost friends by copying and pasting a text.

    So, if it doesn’t work, why is it still being shared? Here’s the catch – scammers thrive on the naivety of Facebook users. By encouraging people to spread the hoax, scammers can easily identify gullible individuals. With everyone copying and pasting the same post, it becomes a goldmine for scammers to pinpoint potential targets.

    A quick Facebook search for “OMG It Worked” reveals a plethora of public posts from people falling for the hoax. And guess who else is scouring these posts? Scammers. By searching for specific keywords, they can identify users who are more susceptible to their schemes.

    The bottom line? These “copy and paste” posts are more than just annoying; they’re potential traps waiting to ensnare the unsuspecting. Don’t be fooled. The post is nothing more than a hoax designed to lure in the unwitting. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and most importantly, don’t fall for the scam.

    Remember, on the vast landscape of social media, not everything is as it seems. So next time you come across a too-good-to-be-true post, think twice before hitting that share button. Your friends – and your online safety – will thank you for it.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 9, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , social media   

    Scammer demands deposit for unauthorized home tour 

    Scammer demands deposit for unauthorized home tour

    By Greg Collier

    A family from Tennessee was looking to move to another part of the state, searching for better job opportunities. They made their intentions known on social media, where they were approached by someone claiming to be a realtor. The realtor told the family he has a home in the area they’re looking to move to. The family was then asked for a $750 deposit. The $750 wasn’t meant as some form of security deposit or holding cost. The realtor said the family needed to pay the $750 just to tour the home.

    Unfortunately, the family paid the realtor the $750 through Cash App. When the family went to meet the realtor at the property, the realtor never showed up. When the family contacted the realtor again, he said he would be there the next day. The next day came, but still, the realtor failed to show up. This time, the realtor claimed that he had been stopped by police and even provided the family a picture of the police officer. It later turned out the police officer in the photo was from another state.

    The family started becoming suspicious about the deal when the realtor sent the family a picture of himself with a realtor’s license. Then the realtor tried to get even more money out of the family by offering them a refund of the $750, but the family would have to pay another $100 claiming that was Cash App’s business fee for the refund. When the family contacted Cash App, they were told there was no such fee.

    If you’re getting ready to make a big life change like moving into a new home, you may want to keep that decision off social media. Sadly, there are too many scammers who are tuned into certain keywords that help them find victims. If you’re approached by a stranger on social media who claims they can help you, be very suspicious and do not give them any money, especially through payment apps like Cash App, Venmo and Zelle.

    To safeguard against rental scams, conduct thorough research on the property. Rather than relying solely on the landlord’s proof of ownership, reach out to the county’s tax assessor’s office to verify the actual property owner. Additionally, perform a Google search using the property’s address to identify any discrepancies in multiple listings, especially differing rental rates. A lower-priced listing among them is likely a fraudulent scheme.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 11, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: home shopping channels, , , , social media   

    Scammers pose as home shopping channels 

    By Greg Collier

    While the majority of shopping from home is done online, home shopping channels are still wildly popular in our digital age. They’re popular enough to the point where scammers are said to be imitating them on social media.

    The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a warning about this new scam that is plaguing social media users. According to the BBB, these scammers have taken to various social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, where they’ve taken out ads that appear to sell many of the same items you’ll find on home shopping channels. In some instances, the scammers are using footage from these channels to make their scam seem more legitimate.

    If someone were to click on the ad, they would be taken to a website that is an imitation of the official websites for the shopping channels. While a customer thinks they’re making a purchase at a great deal, they’re actually giving their personal and financial information to the scammers. Many victims who fell for this scam, never received the product they ordered nor did they receive a refund.

    The BBB advises when shopping online to make sure you check the URL of the website where you’re shopping to make sure it’s not an impostor site. If the website belongs to a company you’re not familiar with, do a web search with the company’s name along with the phrases ‘reviews’, ‘complaints’, and ‘scams’ before you make a purchase. Lastly, if the ad is on social media, check the comments for complaints.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on November 10, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , social media   

    Gift exchange scam is back for the holidays 

    Gift exchange scam is back for the holidays

    By Greg Collier

    The old joke says Christmas decorations and sales start earlier every year. Just this year, it seemed like stores started getting into the Christmas spirit as soon as Halloween was over. Well, we have our own indicator of the start of the holiday season, and that’s a pyramid scheme disguised as a Christmas gift exchange.

    Recently, the Better Business Bureau sounded the alarm on what’s called the Secret Sister gift exchange. If you’re unfamiliar with the Secret Sister scheme, it’s a scam primarily directed at women, evident from its name. The process initiates with a social media post urging participants to include their name and address in a list, accompanied by sending a modestly priced gift. In exchange, they are assured of receiving as many as 36 gifts. Additionally, participants are encouraged to enlist at least six more individuals into the gift exchange.

    A clear indicator of the pyramid scheme nature emerges when you’re urged to recruit more participants to progress in the exchange, be it gifts or money. In pyramid schemes, the individuals at the pyramid’s summit enjoy the benefits of the scam, leaving those at the bottom with little to gain and often facing unfavorable outcomes.

    Also, by submitting yours and your friends’ addresses, you’re putting yourself and your friends at risk of being the target of identity theft.

    One alarming aspect of social media pyramid schemes like this is the potential legal consequences for victims. Pyramid schemes are prohibited in the United States, and even if participants are unknowingly exploited, involvement in recruiting others for the exchange could lead them to legal trouble. It’s crucial for individuals to be aware of the legality surrounding such schemes to avoid unintentional legal complications.

    If you receive an online invitation to participate in one of these gift exchanges, it’s advisable to politely decline. However, if the invitation comes from someone close to you, it might be worth explaining the potential risks associated with such exchanges. By doing so, you could potentially save them from encountering significant troubles down the line. Educating those close to you about the perils of these schemes can be a valuable preventive measure.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on November 6, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , social media   

    Don’t pay to get your social media accounts back 

    By Greg Collier

    Losing access to your social media accounts can be frustrating. Sometimes it’s as simple as not remembering your password, or no longer having access to the email for that account. Other times it can be malicious as being tricked out of your login credentials by scammers. Scammers especially like to hijack Facebook accounts. Once an account has been hijacked, any number of scams can be perpetrated on anyone in your friends list. One of the more popular scams after hijacking someone’s profile is to list imaginary items for sale on Marketplace, while collecting ‘deposits’ on the item.

    So, what can you do if you’ve been locked out of one of your accounts? Well, what you shouldn’t do is pay someone to get your account back. Scammers are posing as recovery agents who claim they can get you your account back, for a fee, of course.

    One Instagram user was locked out of their account and was approached online by one of these phony recovery services. They told the user they could get their account back for $100. Then the user was asked for an additional $130 so the recovery service could purchase the software they needed. The scammers then told the user the account couldn’t be recovered, but they could delete it for another $50. The account was never deleted.

    Scammers like this pour over social media, waiting for someone to mention they’ve been locked out of one of their accounts. Once someone does that, the scammers follow. You might even receive comments from people who swear they had their accounts recovered by using some service. Those commenters are also scammers.

    While it’s not the optimal way, and it feels like it takes an eternity. The best way to recover your account is through the official account recovery pages from the platform itself. That’s not even a guarantee you’ll get your account back.

    In order to avoid losing access to one of your accounts, strong passwords are recommended. If you have trouble keeping track of your passwords, think about using a password manager. There are several reliable free and paid options. And lastly, never give out your access information to anyone.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on October 11, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: free jewelry, , , social media,   

    Beware this TikTok shopping scam 

    By Greg Collier

    There is an old saying that goes, “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see”. That saying could not apply more to social media. In a landscape filled with bots, con artists, and shady advertisements, it’s no wonder scammers have taken to the hottest social media platform to spread their newest scam.

    The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning about an online shopping scam taking place on TikTok. According to the BBB, scammers are posting videos to TikTok claiming they’re disgruntled employees of a high-end jewelry store. The scammers say they’re quitting from the store and to get back at their employers, they’re going to give viewers a secret code to get free merchandise.

    The trick here is that viewers are directed to a fake website that looks like a retailer’s website. While the ‘secret code’ gives the viewer 100% discounts for the merchandise, shipping fees will rack up. If someone were to complete their order, the scammers would have the victim’s financial information. If the victim receives any product at all, it’s usually a cheap knock-off. The BBB is also warning this scam could be duplicated using any kind of retailer.

    We say this a lot, but it really tends to be true. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Any outrageous offers like this should be thoroughly researched before committing to making a payment. IN actuality, you should really only shop with retailers who have already gained your trust. Lastly, if at all possible, always shop online with a credit card. If you get ripped off while using a credit card, you’re more than likely to get your money back than you would with a debit card, as credit cards provide more protection to consumers.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on September 21, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , mystery box, , , social media,   

    A TEMU scam that’s not TEMU’s fault 

    A TEMU scam that's not TEMU's fault

    By Greg Collier

    Last week, we gave our opinion on the online shopping platform TEMU. We advised our readers that TEMU is full of third-party vendors who are getting a reputation for selling knockoffs if an item is delivered at all. TEMU itself has been accused of stockpiling customers’ personal information for less than legitimate purposes. This is all made even more suspicious since TEMU is based in China, where laws concerning personal information are looser than those in the US. However, there’s a scam now going around using TEMU’s name where TEMU isn’t responsible.

    Across social media, ads are being placed where a $1 ‘mystery box’ appears to be offered by TEMU. The ad shows boxes full of high-end items like phones, laptops, and other pricey computer equipment. While TEMU does offer mystery boxes for sale, they’re not being sold for $1, and it’s almost a guarantee an iPhone won’t be included.

    If someone clicks on the ad, they’re taken to a third-party website that has no connection to TEMU. Once at the site, users are asked to enter personal and financial information to receive their supposed mystery box. This is an obvious ploy to use the name of the latest shopping sensation in order to steal someone’s identity and money.

    If you see ads like this that sound too good to be true on social media, they probably are. If you do click on an ad that appears to come from a well-known service, make sure the URL of the website is the correct one. If the URL doesn’t reflect the service you were looking to use, close out of that site immediately, even if it looks identical to the real thing. To best protect yourself when shopping online, use a credit card whenever possible, since credit cards offer more protection when it comes to fraudulent products.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on July 24, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , social media   

    One more social media scam to watch out for 

    Two more social media scams to watch out for

    By Greg Collier

    Social media platforms have become an integral part of our daily lives. From connecting with friends and family to discovering new trends and ideas, these online spaces offer seemingly endless possibilities. However, amid the allure of likes and follows lies a dark underbelly of deception and exploitation. Social media has become a breeding ground for an untold number of scams. Here is one, which has garnered headlines recently, which you should be on the lookout for.

    There are a few different lost pet scams on social media. This one appeals to our humanity and our desire to help others. Scammers are posting pictures of what appear to be injured cats or dogs. Don’t worry too much. The pictures used in these posts were stolen elsewhere from the internet. We’re pretty sure scammers aren’t actually injuring animals deliberately, but we wouldn’t put it past them.

    Accompanying the pictures are pleas to help find the pet’s owner. There’s also a request to share the post if you don’t know who the owner is. Someone would have to be heartless not to share the post, right? That’s what the scammers are hoping for. Once the post reaches a certain number of shares, the scammers will edit the post to show something else, typically related to some kind of scam. Recently, reports have shown scammers changing the post to sunglasses they’re supposedly selling. In the past, we’ve seen cryptocurrency ads and bank scams replace the original post.

    So, how do you differentiate between a scam post and a legitimate post about a lost or injured pet? Before sharing the post, check to see if the post allows comments. If it doesn’t, that’s a good indicator it might be a scam, as scammers don’t want people telling others the post is a scam. Also check the profile of the person making the post. If their profile has very few friends or is relatively new, those are also good indicators the post may be a scam. You can also check the person’s profile for where they supposedly live. If they live nowhere near where the pet was supposedly found, they’re probably scammers.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on April 17, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , social media   

    Cancer patient targeted in scam 

    By Greg Collier

    A Utah woman who is currently undergoing cancer treatment almost fell victim to a scam at probably the most vulnerable time of her life. As you may expect, her treatments are expensive, and she was looking for any kind of financial assistance to help pay her medical bills. She received a message from a Facebook friend who offered to help her apply for a grant that would help pay for her medical expenses. With some of her treatments costing thousands of dollars each, she was open to the idea.

    If you’re a regular reader, you already know this is a common scam that takes place on Facebook. These grants that ‘friends’ keep promising don’t actually exist. In a typical grant scam, the victim will be directed to a phony website where they’ll be asked for all their personal and financial information. Then the victim will be asked for a payment under the guise of a processing fee.

    This is precisely what happened to the Utah woman. She was directed to a website to fill out an application, but in the middle of the process she got a bad feeling and cancelled the application.

    She messaged her Facebook friend saying she was going to think about it. The friend started pressuring her to complete the application. When the woman insisted she wasn’t going to, the Facebook friend disappeared.

    As you can probably surmise, her Facebook friend had their account hacked and taken over by scammers. Who knows for how long, but it was long enough to find someone who was battling an expensive illness.

    Any financial grant giver, whether it’s from the government or a nonprofit, will not approach you. You need to search them out first. Unless your Facebook friend works for the government or non-profit, it’s very unlikely they are going to put in the legwork for you.

    That’s not to say there aren’t any assistance grants out there to help you. We recommend going to the USA.gov website to help you find any legitimate grants you may be eligible for.

     

← Older posts

c
Compose new post
j
Next post/Next comment
k
Previous post/Previous comment
r
Reply
e
Edit
o
Show/Hide comments
t
Go to top
l
Go to login
h
Show/Hide help
shift + esc
Cancel