Greg's Corner

Updates from January, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Geebo 9:00 am on January 3, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: exchange students, international students ( 2 ), Scams ( 1,362 ), virtual kidnapping ( 45 )   

  Missing student victim of kidnapping scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Over the weekend, you may have heard the story about the 17-year-old exchange student who was reported missing in Utah. He was found in a tent in the freezing Utah wilderness. Thankfully, he had not been abducted, nor had he been physically harmed. Instead, he was told to isolate himself by scammers while they tried to extort money from his family back home in China.

  This is a variation of the typical virtual kidnapping scam. In that fraudulent scheme, individuals are targeted with a phone call from scammers who falsely assert that they have abducted a family member or loved one. Frequently, these scammers employ unsettling tactics, such as having someone simulate distress in the background to create the illusion that the alleged kidnap victim is in danger. Alternatively, the scammers may utilize an AI-generated voice clone of the victim’s loved one. These manipulative techniques are designed to induce an emotional state in the actual victim, impairing their ability to think clearly. Subsequently, the scammers proceed to demand a ransom payment. It is important to note that the person supposedly kidnapped by the scammers is typically safe and unaware of being exploited in this deceitful scheme.

  This emerging scam specifically preys on college students with international visas. Victims receive a deceptive call that appears to originate from their home country. The scammer falsely claims that the student is entangled in legal issues back home, purportedly due to identity theft. Subsequently, the student is coerced into making a payment to prevent their arrest.

  Following the initial deception, scammers employ tactics to isolate their victims further. They instruct the targeted individuals not to disclose the matter to anyone and emphasize the importance of maintaining secrecy. Victims are warned against using social media and are even instructed to power off their phones. This isolation strategy aims to limit the victim’s access to external assistance or verification, thereby increasing the likelihood of compliance with the scammer’s demands.

  While the student in Utah was isolating himself in an unheated tent in the woods, his family in China was being told their son had been kidnapped. The scammers were able to con the teen’s parents out of $80,000.

  A common red flag in many scams involves attempts to isolate individuals from their friends and family. Legitimate authorities or organizations typically do not enforce secrecy to such an extent. When someone on the phone insists that you can’t discuss the matter with others, especially friends and family, it often indicates an attempt to manipulate and deceive. In such situations, it’s crucial for individuals to be skeptical, maintain open communication with trusted contacts, and verify the authenticity of any alarming claims before taking any further actions. This awareness can be a crucial defense against falling victim to scams that exploit isolation as a tactic.

   

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  Geebo 9:00 am on January 2, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: arrest warrant ( 26 ), police impersonation scam ( 64 ), Scams ( 1,362 )   

  New arrest warrant scam shocks police 

  

  By Greg Collier

  There’s a new version of the arrest warrant scam going around in Florida that local police say is so advanced they may not ever catch the scammer. In a typical arrest warrant scam, the scammer calls their victim to tell them they have a warrant out for their arrest, but the victim can resolve the warrant by making a payment over the phone. These scammers will often spoof the phone number of the local police department to make the scam more convincing. Now, at least one scammer has virtually perfected the scam.

  In this instance, the scammer is posing as a county sheriff’s office when calling their victims, including the spoofed phone number. Victims are told they have a warrant out for their arrest, which carries a $50,000 bond. But for $5000 the victim can avoid arrest and be given a court date instead. Then, their $5000 will be refunded to them.

  The best scams have a kernel of truth to them, and this one is no exception. When someone is arrested, and needs to post bail, a bail bondsman will often accept 10% of the bond as payment.

  However, the scammer didn’t stop there. Not only did the scammer use the name of an actual police officer from that sheriff’s department, but they also sent victims realistic looking arrest warrants. The scammer also had a police scanner playing in the background.

  One potential victim, who is a former sheriff’s office employee, told the scammer to have the dispatch desk call him back. The scammer called back, spoofing the number of the dispatcher desk.

  As with most police impersonation scams, a little bit of knowledge can keep you from losing money. No legitimate law enforcement agency, department, or office will ever ask for money over the phone. Police do not call people who have an arrest warrant. Instead, they will go to see the suspect in person before making an arrest.

  If you ever receive a phone call like this, no matter how realistic it might sound, hang up, and call your local police department at their non-emergency number. They’ll be able to tell you if you’re being scammed.