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  • Greg Collier 8:00 am on September 9, 2026 Permalink | Reply
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    TikTok Is the New Hunting Ground for Rental Scammers 

    TikTok Is the New Hunting Ground for Rental Scammers

    By Greg Collier

    For years, people looking for apartments and houses have been warned about rental scams on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and other online classifieds. Now, scammers appear to be following their potential victims to a newer platform: TikTok.

    That should be a major warning for anyone searching for a place to live, particularly college students and first-time renters who may be more comfortable searching for housing through social media than through traditional real estate websites.

    Two reports published this week illustrate just how quickly the rental scam game is evolving. In Wisconsin, a real estate agency discovered that scammers were copying legitimate property listings and reposting them on TikTok. At the same time, a study examining TikTok rental listings found that 68% contained at least one warning sign associated with potential scams.

    The problem isn’t that TikTok itself is necessarily selling these properties. The problem is that scammers have discovered another enormous audience.

    The Same Old Scam Gets a New Platform

    The technology may change, but the basic rental scam hasn’t changed much.

    A scammer finds a legitimate property online. They copy the photographs and description, make the rent look attractive, add a phone number, and repost the property somewhere else.

    The person looking for a home may have no idea that the listing has been stolen.

    That’s exactly what a Wisconsin real estate broker told WEAU was happening in the Chippewa Valley. Legitimate listings were being copied from real estate websites and turned into TikTok posts. In some cases, the same property appeared on multiple TikTok accounts with different rental prices.

    One legitimate property reportedly appeared on TikTok for $900 with utilities included on one account and $950 on another.

    The scammer’s objective wasn’t necessarily to collect an entire year’s rent from the victim.

    Sometimes it was much simpler.

    Prospective renters were told to pay a fee just to see the property.

    That can be enough to make a scam profitable when hundreds or thousands of people see the advertisement.

    A House for Rent That Isn’t for Rent

    The problem becomes even more disturbing when the property being advertised isn’t actually available.

    News4JAX found TikTok rental advertisements for Jacksonville properties that didn’t match the legitimate listings elsewhere.

    One TikTok video advertised a property for $990 a month while Zillow listed the same property at $1,890.

    In another case, a property advertised as a rental on TikTok was actually listed for sale on Zillow.

    Yet the TikTok account was reportedly asking prospective renters for a $1,000 deposit.

    That is the kind of discrepancy renters need to investigate before handing over a dime.

    If a house suddenly appears online for hundreds of dollars less than comparable properties, there is usually a reason.

    And when the explanation is that you have to send money immediately to secure it, the situation deserves even more scrutiny.

    Scammers Know Who They’re Targeting

    The timing of this warning is particularly important.

    College students are arriving in communities across the country looking for apartments, roommates, and houses. Many are renting for the first time. Others may be moving to a new city and have little knowledge of the local rental market.

    That creates an attractive target.

    A cybersecurity investigator involved in the TikTok study specifically expressed concern about the platform’s younger demographic and its potential to reach first-time renters and college students.

    Young renters aren’t necessarily more gullible than anyone else.

    They may simply be unfamiliar with how quickly a legitimate-looking rental listing can be copied.

    A scammer doesn’t need to convince someone that a completely imaginary house exists. They can take photographs of a real house, copy the description from a legitimate listing, and use the actual address.

    Suddenly, the victim is looking at a property that really exists.

    The Rental Scam Has Evolved Before

    TikTok isn’t the first platform to become a favorite hunting ground for rental scammers.

    The Wisconsin real estate broker described a progression from Craigslist to Facebook Marketplace and now TikTok.

    That’s an important lesson.

    Scammers aren’t loyal to a particular website.

    They go where the victims are.

    When people started searching for housing on Craigslist, scammers followed them there. When Facebook Marketplace became popular, scammers moved there. As social media habits change, scammers adapt again.

    There is no reason to believe TikTok will be the last platform they exploit.

    The next major rental scam could show up somewhere else entirely.

    The Numbers Are Already Alarming

    According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans have reported nearly 65,000 rental scams since 2020, with reported losses totaling about $65 million.

    The typical reported loss is around $1,000.

    That is bad enough, but the actual damage can be much greater.

    A scammer who starts with a $60 showing fee can eventually ask for an application fee, a security deposit, and the first month’s rent.

    A person who believes they have found their new home could potentially send thousands of dollars before discovering that they have been dealing with a criminal.

    And there is another danger.

    Once someone has submitted an application, they may have handed over a significant amount of personal information, including identification and financial documents.

    The loss isn’t necessarily limited to the money sent to the scammer.

    Look at the Property, Not Just the Video

    One of the biggest mistakes a renter can make is assuming that a convincing video proves the person posting it controls the property.

    It doesn’t.

    Photographs can be stolen. Descriptions can be copied. Videos can be downloaded and reposted. Social media accounts can be created in minutes.

    Even a video showing the inside of an actual house doesn’t prove the person posting it has anything to do with the property.

    That’s why renters should independently search the address.

    Look for the property on Zillow or other legitimate real estate sites. See whether it is listed for sale. Check whether another agent or property management company is advertising it.

    If you find a real estate company associated with the property, don’t use the phone number supplied by the TikTok account.

    Find the company’s official website yourself and call the number listed there.

    That extra step could make the difference between finding a legitimate rental and losing thousands of dollars.

    Don’t Pay to See a House You Haven’t Verified

    One of the biggest red flags in these reports is the demand for money before a showing.

    A supposed landlord or agent may claim there are dozens of other people interested in the property. You may be told that somebody else is ready to pay the deposit. You may be warned that the house will disappear if you don’t act immediately.

    That’s pressure.

    And pressure is one of the scammer’s favorite weapons.

    The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers frequently create urgency to prevent potential victims from taking the time to investigate.

    A legitimate rental opportunity shouldn’t require you to make a blind payment simply because a stranger on social media says you have to act immediately.

    Be especially cautious about requests for cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App.

    Those payment methods can make recovering your money extremely difficult.

    The Rent May Be the Biggest Clue

    There is another simple test that can help.

    Know what housing actually costs in the area where you are looking.

    If comparable two-bedroom apartments are renting for $1,800 and someone suddenly offers one for $950, don’t assume you’ve found the deal of the century.

    Assume you have found something that needs to be investigated.

    That doesn’t automatically mean the listing is fraudulent. There can be legitimate reasons for a property to rent below market value.

    But the bigger the discrepancy, the more questions you should ask before doing anything else.

    A bargain is not a bargain if it doesn’t exist.

    This Isn’t Just a TikTok Problem

    It would be easy to read these stories and conclude that people simply shouldn’t look for housing on TikTok.

    That’s not really the lesson.

    The bigger lesson is that no online platform should be treated as proof that a rental listing is legitimate.

    Craigslist can be exploited.

    Facebook Marketplace can be exploited.

    TikTok can be exploited.

    Even legitimate real estate websites can be used as the source material for scams because criminals can copy their listings and take them somewhere else.

    The platform is only where you found the advertisement.

    It doesn’t necessarily tell you who is behind it.

    Verify Before You Pay

    Before sending a rental application fee, deposit, or rent, independently verify the property and the person offering it.

    Search the address.

    Compare the price with other listings.

    Check whether the property is for sale somewhere else.

    Verify the real estate agent or property management company through an independently located official website.

    See the property in person whenever possible.

    If you can’t visit it, ask for a live video tour rather than relying on a prerecorded video.

    And most importantly, don’t let someone on social media rush you into sending money.

    The rental market is already difficult enough. Housing costs have made finding an affordable place to live a serious challenge for millions of Americans.

    Scammers understand that desperation.

    They know that when someone sees an affordable house or apartment, they may be willing to overlook a few warning signs because they’re afraid another renter will get there first.

    That’s exactly what the scammer wants.

    The next time a cheap rental appears on your TikTok feed, don’t ask yourself how quickly you can send the deposit.

    Ask a much more important question:

    Who actually owns that property, and who am I really sending my money to?

     

  • Greg Collier 8:02 am on September 4, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    The Mystery Package Scam 

    By Greg Collier

    Getting an unexpected package can feel like a pleasant surprise. Maybe someone sent you a gift. Maybe a retailer made a mistake. Or maybe you simply forgot about something you ordered.

    But sometimes that package is not a gift at all.

    The New York State Sheriffs’ Association is warning residents about a scam known as a brushing scam, where people receive inexpensive merchandise they never ordered. While the package itself might contain nothing more than a cheap product, the real purpose can be what happens after it arrives.

    What Is a Brushing Scam?

    Brushing scams have been around for years, particularly as online shopping has exploded. The basic idea is simple. A seller sends merchandise to someone who never purchased it, then uses the recipient’s information to make it appear that a legitimate customer bought and reviewed the product.

    The fake review can make the seller’s merchandise look more popular and trustworthy than it really is.

    The person receiving the package may have no idea that their name or other information is being used.

    That is concerning enough, but there can be another problem.

    An unsolicited package can also be a warning sign that some of your personal information has been exposed.

    That does not necessarily mean your bank account has been compromised. It does mean you should take the opportunity to look around and make sure nothing else is wrong.

    The QR Code Could Be the Real Trap

    One of the most important warnings from the Sheriffs’ Association is not to automatically follow the instructions that come with an unexpected package.

    That includes scanning QR codes.

    QR codes have become so common that people barely think twice about scanning them anymore. Restaurants use them for menus. Businesses use them for promotions. Retailers use them for customer service.

    Scammers know this.

    A QR code inside an unsolicited package could direct you to a website designed to steal information or trick you into taking some other action. The same applies to phone numbers and website addresses printed on paperwork inside the package.

    The fact that the information is printed on something that looks official does not make it legitimate.

    If you have no idea why you received the package in the first place, there is no good reason to immediately follow instructions from the person who supposedly sent it.

    Don’t Let Curiosity Make the Decision

    This is one of the things that makes scams like this effective. People are naturally curious.

    You open the box and find something you never ordered. There may be a note telling you that you have received a special gift, asking you to scan something, or directing you to a website for more information.

    It is tempting to find out what is going on.

    Instead, stop.

    If the package is genuinely legitimate, you can investigate it through a company or retailer using contact information you find independently. You do not need to use the phone number, website, or QR code supplied by the mystery package.

    That distinction is important because scammers can make almost anything look legitimate.

    Check Your Accounts

    An unexpected package should also be a reminder to check your online shopping and financial accounts.

    Look for purchases you do not recognize. Check your recent transactions. Pay attention to unusual activity.

    If you have reason to believe that one of your accounts has been compromised, change the password.

    And don’t reuse the same password across multiple accounts. If a criminal obtains one password and you use it everywhere, a relatively small security problem can quickly become a much bigger one.

    The New York State Sheriffs’ Association specifically recommends checking shopping and financial accounts and changing passwords when there is reason to believe an account may have been compromised.

    The package may be nothing more than a brushing scam. But there is little downside to making sure your accounts are secure.

    What If the Package Belongs to Someone Else?

    There is another possibility that people should not overlook.

    Sometimes a package really was intended for another person.

    If the name on the package is not yours, don’t simply assume the merchandise belongs to you because it showed up at your house.

    Check with the delivery company or retailer about the situation rather than opening the package and trying to figure it out yourself.

    The same basic rule applies: when something unexpected shows up, slow down before taking action.

    Scammers Don’t Need Your Money Immediately

    One reason brushing scams can be overlooked is that the victim may not lose any money.

    There may be no demand for a payment. Nobody may threaten you. You may not even notice anything suspicious about the package.

    But scams don’t always begin with someone asking for money.

    Sometimes criminals are trying to collect information. Sometimes they are trying to manipulate a company’s review system. Sometimes they are testing whether information connected to a particular person is accurate.

    And sometimes the package is simply the first step toward getting someone to interact with a scammer.

    That is why an unexpected package deserves a little more attention than it might normally receive.

    Scammers Are Always Looking for New Ways In

    The lesson behind the brushing scam goes beyond packages.

    Scammers are constantly looking for ways to get people to click, call, scan, respond, or provide information. They take ordinary things that people trust and turn them into opportunities.

    An unexpected package is normally something you might associate with a mistake or a surprise.

    A QR code is normally just a convenient way to open a website.

    A phone number printed on a piece of paper normally looks like a way to contact customer service.

    But none of those things are automatically trustworthy.

    The safest response to something you did not order is to take a step back and verify what is happening independently.

    If you receive an unsolicited package, don’t scan the QR code. Don’t call the number printed inside. Don’t visit the website provided in the package simply because the instructions tell you to.

    Check your accounts. Secure your passwords if necessary. Report suspicious packages to the retailer or delivery company.

    The package sitting on your doorstep may be harmless.

    But when you didn’t order it, don’t let curiosity decide what happens next.

     

  • Greg Collier 8:09 am on September 2, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    This FBI Scam Wants You Scared 

    This FBI Scam Wants You Scared

    By Greg Collier

    For years, one of the most basic pieces of advice about phone scams was simple: if someone claims to be from the FBI, police, IRS, or another government agency and starts demanding money, hang up.

    That advice still applies. But scammers are making the first part of the scam much harder to recognize.

    The FBI’s Boston Division is warning about an impersonation scheme in which criminals are spoofing the office’s actual telephone number and pretending to be FBI agents. The scammers then use the credibility of that phone number, along with threats of criminal charges and other frightening claims, to manipulate victims into following their instructions.

    It is a perfect example of how modern scammers are taking old impersonation scams and adding new technology to make them considerably more convincing.

    The Call That Looks Legitimate

    According to the FBI, the scam begins with someone pretending to represent a financial institution. The caller tells the victim that their personal information has allegedly been used to open an account connected to the purchase of illegal firearms.

    That is already enough to get someone’s attention.

    The victim is then supposedly transferred to an FBI special agent who is investigating the matter. The victim may even be told to verify the telephone number. The call then disconnects.

    Shortly afterward, another call comes in.

    This time, the caller ID appears to show the FBI Boston Division’s actual main telephone number.

    The person on the other end provides a fake name and badge number and claims to be an FBI agent. The victim is then encouraged to continue the conversation through an encrypted messaging application.

    The scammer may insist that the communications are confidential and must not be shared with anyone.

    That last part is particularly important.

    The criminals are not merely trying to convince victims that they are government officials. They are trying to isolate them from anyone who might recognize the scam.

    Caller ID Is Not Identification

    This is where the scam becomes especially dangerous.

    Many people have been taught to look at caller ID as a basic security check. If the number looks familiar, the caller must be legitimate.

    That assumption is no longer safe.

    Phone numbers can be spoofed. A criminal sitting somewhere far from Boston can potentially make a call appear to originate from an FBI office. The same basic tactic can be used with the telephone number of a police department, courthouse, bank, government agency, or any other trusted organization.

    In other words, seeing a legitimate number on your screen doesn’t necessarily mean that organization is calling you.

    The FBI specifically warns that it will not call or email private citizens to demand payment, threaten arrest, request sensitive information, or order someone to communicate through an encrypted application.

    It also will not tell someone to pay money through prepaid cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency ATMs to avoid arrest.

    Those are not FBI procedures. They are scammer procedures.

    Fear Is the Product

    The criminals behind these schemes understand something important about human behavior.

    A person who believes they are about to be arrested for helping purchase illegal firearms isn’t necessarily going to calmly investigate the call.

    They may panic.

    That panic is exactly what the scammer wants.

    The caller creates a frightening situation, establishes himself as the person who can supposedly make the problem go away, and then starts giving the victim instructions. The victim is encouraged to act immediately rather than stop and independently verify what is happening.

    This is a recurring formula in government impersonation scams.

    You’re being investigated.

    Your identity was stolen.

    There is a warrant for your arrest.

    Your bank account is connected to criminal activity.

    You owe the government money.

    You could be arrested if you don’t cooperate.

    Then comes the solution: send money, move your money, provide information, install an application, or follow some other instruction.

    The details change, but the psychological machinery remains remarkably consistent.

    This Isn’t Just an FBI Scam

    There is nothing particularly unique about the FBI being used as the disguise.

    The same scam can be adapted to impersonate virtually any government agency or law enforcement organization.

    A criminal could claim to be from a local police department and say you have an outstanding warrant. Another could pretend to be a federal court official. Someone else could impersonate the IRS and claim you have an unpaid tax bill.

    Scammers have also impersonated Social Security officials, Medicare representatives, immigration authorities, and other government agencies.

    The objective is the same: make the victim afraid enough to stop thinking critically.

    And technology gives criminals additional tools to make their stories believable.

    A fake badge number costs nothing. A government seal can be copied. A legitimate telephone number can be spoofed. An official-looking email can be created in minutes. Increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence can also make written communications, voices, and other pieces of a fake identity more convincing.

    The scammer doesn’t necessarily need to fool you with one perfect piece of evidence. They simply need to overwhelm you with enough apparently legitimate details that you stop questioning the story.

    The Isolation Tactic Should Set Off Alarms

    One of the biggest red flags in the FBI warning isn’t necessarily the demand itself.

    It is the instruction not to tell anyone.

    That is a classic scam tactic.

    Legitimate investigators don’t need to isolate you from your family, friends, attorneys, financial institution, or other trusted people in order to conduct legitimate business.

    When a caller tells you that the matter is confidential and you cannot discuss it with anyone, stop.

    That instruction benefits the scammer, not you.

    A family member might recognize the scam. A bank employee might question the transaction. A police officer might immediately tell you that the caller isn’t legitimate.

    The criminal wants to prevent those people from getting involved.

    Stop. Hang Up. Verify.

    The FBI’s advice is refreshingly simple.

    If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be the FBI or another law enforcement agency, hang up.

    Don’t use the number the caller gives you to verify their identity. Don’t rely on caller ID. Don’t continue communicating through an application they tell you to download.

    Instead, find the agency’s legitimate contact information yourself and call it directly.

    If someone claims to be calling from a particular FBI field office, for example, look up that office independently. If someone claims to be from your local police department, find the department’s number through an independently verified source and call it yourself.

    That extra step can break the scam.

    If you believe you’ve been targeted, preserve the evidence. Keep phone numbers, emails, text messages, banking records, payment information, and other communications. Contact your financial institution if money or account information was involved, notify local law enforcement, and report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

    Most importantly, don’t be embarrassed.

    These criminals deliberately manufacture fear and urgency. They may have information about you that makes their story sound convincing. They may know your name, address, or other personal details. They may even make your phone tell you that the call is coming from a legitimate government number.

    None of that proves who is actually on the other end of the line.

    The most important identification tool you have isn’t caller ID.

    It’s your ability to stop, hang up, and verify.

    Because when a scammer can make a criminal halfway across the country look like the FBI calling from down the street, answering the phone isn’t the dangerous part. Believing the caller without checking is.

     

  • Greg Collier 8:01 am on August 31, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Daejon Labrayae Love, , San Francisco 49ers,   

    The Romance Scam That Fooled Google and AI 

    The Romance Scam That Fooled Google and AI

    By Greg Collier

    For years, romance scammers have relied on fake names, stolen photographs, and elaborate stories to convince people that they are someone they are not.

    Now they have another potential weapon: artificial intelligence.

    A federal case involving a man accused of pretending to be a wealthy NFL player illustrates just how dangerous that combination can become. According to newly released court documents, prosecutors say 35-year-old Daejon Labrayae Love created fake dating profiles, posed as a professional football player and wealthy real estate developer, and convinced women to give him money for investments that allegedly did not exist.

    But Love apparently wasn’t just trying to fool his potential victims.

    According to investigators, his carefully constructed online identity may have fooled Google and artificial intelligence systems, too.

    The perfect online boyfriend

    According to court documents, Love allegedly created profiles on dating apps including Hinge, Bumble, and Tinder.

    He reportedly presented himself as an NFL player and, at other times, as a wealthy Swiss real estate developer.

    The online persona was reinforced with social media.

    Investigators say Love posted photographs and videos of himself wearing San Francisco 49ers gear, appearing to participate in professional football training, and posing alongside expensive cars.

    For someone meeting him online, the evidence could look convincing.

    And that was apparently the point.

    Prosecutors allege that Love cultivated romantic relationships with women before eventually encouraging them to invest money in supposedly lucrative opportunities.

    The alleged scheme reportedly involved an accomplice, 18-year-old Taylor Jamie Chan, whom prosecutors say Love presented as a financial adviser.

    The victims weren’t simply being asked to send money to a stranger.

    They were allegedly being convinced that they were dealing with a wealthy, successful man who could give them access to investments they otherwise couldn’t obtain.

    That is a classic romance scam strategy with a modern makeover.

    Then something very strange happened

    Here’s where this case becomes particularly fascinating.

    According to court documents, Love’s fake identity may have become convincing enough that search engines and AI systems sometimes repeated it as fact.

    Investigators searched Love’s name in January and reportedly found results that sometimes identified him as a San Francisco 49ers player.

    One image included in the court documents allegedly showed a Google search for “daejon love 49ers” displaying the 49ers’ player roster.

    Investigators reportedly found similar results associated with Instagram accounts believed to be controlled by Love.

    The court documents state that his false social media representations apparently caused search engines and AI to occasionally identify him as a legitimate 49ers player.

    That’s an extraordinary development.

    A scammer didn’t necessarily need to convince every potential victim that his story was true.

    He could point to the internet itself.

    “Just Google me”

    Imagine you’re talking to someone you met on a dating app.

    He tells you he’s a professional athlete.

    You’re skeptical.

    So you do what virtually everyone does these days.

    You Google him.

    And the search results appear to confirm what he’s telling you.

    Suddenly your skepticism disappears.

    This is why this case should concern anyone who uses the internet to meet people, make investments, or verify someone’s identity.

    We’ve traditionally been told to research people online before trusting them.

    But what happens when the person you’re researching has deliberately manipulated the information that search engines and AI systems see?

    The existence of search results doesn’t necessarily mean those results are evidence.

    A photograph doesn’t prove someone’s identity.

    A social media account doesn’t prove someone’s occupation.

    And an AI chatbot confidently repeating something doesn’t magically turn it into a fact.

    Fake money makes the story even more convincing

    The alleged scheme apparently went beyond creating a fake football career.

    According to prosecutors, Love also used applications capable of creating fictitious bank and investment account balances.

    Investigators allege that he showed victims fake balances to make them believe he was extraordinarily wealthy.

    In one instance described in the court documents, Love allegedly claimed to have more than $30 million in a bank and investment account.

    Think about how powerful that could be in a romance scam.

    The victim isn’t simply being told, “Trust me, I’m rich.”

    She’s being shown what appears to be evidence.

    There is a balance on the screen.

    There are social media photographs.

    There are football pictures.

    There are search results.

    There may be an entire digital history apparently confirming the person’s story.

    Except none of it necessarily means what it appears to mean.

    The internet can create an illusion of credibility

    This is an important lesson for anyone who thinks they can avoid scams simply by doing a quick Google search.

    Scammers understand that people use the internet to verify information.

    So they can attempt to manufacture information for the internet to find.

    That can include fake social media profiles, fabricated websites, manipulated photographs, fake business listings, and phony financial information.

    AI potentially makes this problem even more complicated because criminals can use it to create convincing text, photographs, voices, and videos at a speed that would have been difficult or impossible a few years ago.

    The Love case, as described in the court documents, demonstrates another troubling possibility: the fake information can potentially feed back into search and AI systems and make the fraudulent identity appear even more legitimate.

    The scammer creates the lie.

    The internet repeats the lie.

    The victim searches for the lie.

    The search results appear to confirm the lie.

    And the scammer gets exactly what he wanted.

    Romance scams aren’t really about romance

    The emotional manipulation is what makes these scams so effective.

    A romance scammer doesn’t necessarily begin by asking for money.

    They may spend weeks or months building a relationship.

    They learn what their target wants to hear. They establish trust. They create a sense of intimacy.

    Then comes the financial emergency or investment opportunity.

    Suddenly the relationship has a price tag.

    And because the victim believes they know and trust the person, the request doesn’t feel like a financial transaction with a stranger.

    It feels like helping someone they love.

    That is why victims can lose enormous amounts of money before realizing what happened.

    Don’t let the internet do your thinking for you

    The lesson from this case isn’t that Google or AI is deliberately helping scammers.

    The court documents themselves describe the search engines and AI as apparently being fooled by the false online representations.

    The lesson is that online information has to be independently verified.

    If someone claims to be a professional athlete, don’t rely solely on their social media account or a search result.

    If someone claims to be wealthy, don’t rely on screenshots of bank balances.

    If someone you met online wants you to invest money, don’t assume the investment is legitimate because they appear successful.

    And if someone you’ve never met in person asks you to send money, that should be an enormous warning sign regardless of how convincing their online identity appears.

    The fake person may be everywhere

    Perhaps the most disturbing part of this story is that the alleged scammer didn’t just create one fake identity.

    According to court documents, investigators said Love used multiple aliases, including Jordan Love, Jon Love, Daejon Love, and Avril Lyto Love.

    Prosecutors allege that Love and Chan were arrested at Boise Airport and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Their first court appearance was scheduled for September in Portland.

    The FBI also believes there could be additional victims.

    That possibility should serve as a warning to anyone who has encountered a suspicious online romantic partner claiming to be an athlete, investor, wealthy businessman, or other high-status individual.

    The most convincing scammer isn’t necessarily the person with the best story.

    It may be the person who has figured out how to make the internet appear to tell the same story.

    And in an age when scammers can manufacture photographs, identities, financial records, and even apparently authoritative online information, “I Googled them” is no longer enough.

    Sometimes, the scammer has already Googled themselves.

     

  • Greg Collier 8:00 am on August 28, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , domestic abuse, , ,   

    When Scammers Target Abuse Victims 

    By Greg Collier

    Scammers have never been particularly concerned with how low they have to sink to make money. But a disturbing scam now being reported in Colorado shows just how far criminals are willing to go.

    They are targeting people who have just experienced domestic violence.

    The scam is simple in concept but particularly cruel in execution. A person has just gone through a traumatic incident. Police arrive. An alleged abuser is arrested. The victim may be frightened, exhausted, and unsure what happens next.

    Then the phone rings.

    The caller claims to be a sheriff’s deputy or another official calling about the defendant’s bond. The caller may know the victim’s name, the alleged abuser’s name, and other details about the case. Then comes the demand for money.

    It is a scam, but by the time the victim realizes that, the money may already be gone.

    The scam arrives at the worst possible time

    CBS News Colorado reports that domestic violence victims in Jefferson County have been losing hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to callers who contact them within hours of an alleged abuser’s arrest. The local district attorney’s office says the scheme has been occurring for months and has recently become more frequent.

    The scammers reportedly claim to be deputies from the county jail. They may provide a supposed deputy’s name and badge number. In some cases, they appear to know the full names of both the victim and the defendant.

    That information can make an otherwise ridiculous story sound believable.

    The caller then creates urgency. The victim is told that money must be paid immediately to deal with the defendant’s bond. Some victims have been instructed to send money through Cash App or Venmo or to purchase gift cards.

    Those payment methods should be an immediate warning sign. But these aren’t necessarily calls being made to people sitting calmly at home evaluating an offer. They are being made to people who may have just experienced violence and are trying to figure out what happens next.

    That is precisely what makes this scam so ugly.

    The scammers know fear works

    Domestic violence is fundamentally about power and control. Advocates told CBS that survivors may already have experienced financial control, isolation, or other forms of manipulation by an abusive partner. A sudden arrest can create another layer of uncertainty.

    A victim may not have expected an arrest. They may not understand the court process. They may be worried about what happens next or concerned about the financial consequences of an incarcerated partner.

    A scammer does not need to create that fear.

    They simply need to exploit it.

    The result can be devastating. One advocate told CBS that some victims live paycheck to paycheck and that losing money to the scam could potentially leave them unable to pay their rent and push them toward homelessness.

    That is more than theft. It is taking advantage of someone who is already in crisis.

    This isn’t just a Colorado scam

    The fact that this particular scheme has been reported in Jefferson County does not mean people elsewhere can dismiss it.

    The basic ingredients exist in communities throughout the United States.

    Police departments make arrests. Jail bookings and court proceedings can generate public records. Social media can provide additional information about the people involved. Scammers can combine those pieces of information and then make a carefully timed phone call.

    They don’t necessarily need access to a police database.

    They may only need to know that an arrest happened, who was arrested, and who is connected to that person.

    That means the scam could potentially appear in almost any city or town in America.

    A scammer could impersonate a county sheriff in Texas, a city police department in Ohio, a court employee in California, or a jail official in Florida. The name of the agency changes. The script remains essentially the same.

    Someone has been arrested.

    Someone needs money.

    Pay immediately.

    Public information can become a weapon

    One of the more troubling aspects of this scam is the possibility that criminals are combining publicly available information.

    According to the Colorado report, officials aren’t exactly sure how scammers are identifying victims so quickly. Investigators suspect criminals may be combining public information about defendants and court hearings with information available through social media.

    That is an important lesson for everyone.

    A piece of information being public does not mean it is harmless.

    A court record might identify someone involved in an arrest. A Facebook profile might identify that person’s partner. A public post might reveal where they live or who their family members are.

    Individually, those details may not seem particularly valuable.

    Put together, they can give a scammer enough information to sound like someone who should be trusted.

    And with today’s technology, criminals have even more tools for organizing and exploiting information.

    The government doesn’t demand bond money this way

    The most important thing to remember is that an unexpected demand for immediate payment should never be accepted simply because the caller sounds official.

    In the Colorado cases, officials emphasized that the jail, courts, and district attorneys’ offices will not call victims demanding money for a defendant’s bond. They also will not demand payment through Cash App, gift cards, or similar methods.

    Caller ID is not proof.

    A badge number is not proof.

    Knowing your name is not proof.

    Knowing the defendant’s name is not proof.

    Even knowing details about the arrest is not proof.

    The only safe way to verify the claim is to independently contact the appropriate agency using a telephone number obtained from an official government website or another trusted source.

    Do not call the number provided by the suspicious caller.

    Scammers will exploit the crisis you’re already in

    This scam fits a much larger pattern in modern fraud.

    Scammers monitor what is happening in the world and look for people who are particularly vulnerable at that moment. They exploit disasters, deaths, illnesses, arrests, financial problems, relationship problems, and even ordinary life events.

    A hurricane becomes an opportunity for fake disaster-relief scams.

    A major data breach becomes an opportunity for fake bank calls.

    A medical diagnosis becomes an opportunity for fake insurance or Medicare scams.

    And now, an extremely traumatic domestic violence incident can become the opening for a fake jail or bond scam.

    The common denominator isn’t the technology.

    It is vulnerability.

    The criminals understand that someone who is frightened or overwhelmed is more likely to make a quick decision without stopping to verify the caller.

    That is why the best defense is to slow everything down.

    If you receive the call, hang up

    If someone calls after a domestic-violence incident and claims to be from a jail, police department, court, or prosecutor’s office, do not send money because the caller says you have to act immediately.

    Hang up.

    Take a breath.

    Then contact the agency yourself using an independently verified number.

    If you have access to a victim advocate or domestic violence organization, you can also ask them to help you navigate the situation. They can often explain what happens next and help separate legitimate information from a scammer’s demands.

    And if money has already been sent, report it. Being scammed is not something a victim should be ashamed of.

    The shame belongs with the person who decided that someone’s worst moment was a good opportunity to steal from them.

    Unfortunately, there is nothing about this particular scam that makes it uniquely Colorado. The same tactics can be adapted to virtually any community in America.

    The next victim could be anywhere.

    And that is precisely why people need to know about this scam before the phone rings.

     

  • Greg Collier 8:00 am on August 26, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , MyChart, ,   

    Scammers Are Coming for Your MyChart Account 

    Scammers Are Coming for Your MyChart Account

    By Greg Collier

    For millions of Americans, MyChart has become a routine part of managing healthcare. Patients use it to check test results, communicate with doctors, schedule appointments, and access their medical records. That familiarity is precisely what scammers are now exploiting.

    Hospitals around the country are warning patients about a phishing campaign that uses the MyChart name and branding to make fraudulent emails and messages appear legitimate. The campaign appears to be particularly targeting older Americans, with some messages promising Medicare-related benefits, wellness programs, or a free health kit.

    The scam is a good reminder that criminals don’t necessarily need to break into a hospital’s computer system to steal sensitive information. Sometimes, all they need is for a patient to fall for the wrong email.

    The MyChart Name Makes the Scam More Convincing

    The messages reportedly use the MyChart name and may even include logos that look legitimate. Some versions mention a supposed “2026 MyChart Senior Health Package,” Medicare wellness benefits, or a free health kit.

    That combination is carefully designed to get attention.

    A Medicare-related offer is particularly likely to catch the eye of an older patient who regularly receives healthcare communications. The message may suggest that the recipient is entitled to a benefit or simply needs to confirm some information to receive it.

    Then comes the important part for the scammer.

    The recipient is told to click a link, confirm an address, or provide personal information.

    That’s where the phishing attack can begin.

    This Is Bigger Than One Hospital

    The warnings aren’t limited to a single healthcare system.

    According to reports, a growing number of hospitals have been warning their patients about the campaign, with the number tracked by healthcare industry media increasing from seven hospitals to 20 in recent days.

    That’s significant because MyChart isn’t some obscure service used by a handful of patients.

    MyChart is operated by Epic Systems, which the reports identify as the world’s largest electronic medical record company. Epic has about 44% of the U.S. hospital market, and approximately 253 million Americans have an electronic record in an Epic system. About 190 million people have a MyChart account.

    That enormous user base makes the MyChart name extremely valuable to scammers.

    The more people who recognize a brand, the easier it becomes to use that brand as bait.

    The Scam Doesn’t Have to Hack MyChart

    There’s an important distinction here.

    The warnings do not indicate that scammers have hacked MyChart itself.

    Instead, criminals are taking advantage of the name’s familiarity. They can create emails, websites, text messages, and other communications that appear to be connected to MyChart even though they aren’t.

    That’s a classic phishing strategy.

    The scammer wants you to make the mistake for them.

    You click the link. You enter the information. You provide the details.

    And suddenly, information that should have remained private is in the hands of someone who never should have had access to it.

    The information could potentially include login credentials, personal information, medical information, Medicare details, insurance information, or financial information, depending on what the fraudulent message requests.

    Why Seniors May Be Especially Vulnerable

    The campaign’s apparent focus on older patients is particularly concerning.

    Scammers understand that seniors may be dealing with Medicare, multiple healthcare providers, prescriptions, medical appointments, and insurance paperwork. A message promising a Medicare wellness benefit can therefore seem perfectly reasonable.

    It also gives scammers an opportunity to exploit urgency.

    A message telling someone that they need to confirm information or claim a benefit can create the feeling that ignoring it means losing something valuable.

    That’s when people make mistakes.

    Instead of stopping to ask whether the message is legitimate, they click.

    Don’t Let a Logo Convince You

    One of the most important lessons from this scam is that a familiar logo isn’t proof of anything.

    Scammers can copy logos.

    They can copy colors.

    They can create convincing websites.

    They can also spoof telephone numbers and even make an email address or website look close enough to the real thing that a hurried recipient won’t notice the difference.

    That’s why healthcare consumers should be especially careful when a message involving medical or insurance information asks them to take action.

    If you’re unsure about a MyChart-related message, don’t use the contact information contained in the message. Instead, contact your healthcare provider using a telephone number obtained from the provider’s official website or another source you already trust.

    That extra step could prevent a major problem.

    The Safest MyChart Message May Be the One You Ignore

    If you receive an unexpected email or text claiming to offer a MyChart health package, Medicare benefit, wellness program, or free health kit, don’t click the link.

    Don’t open attachments.

    Don’t reply.

    And don’t provide personal, medical, financial, or insurance information.

    Mark the message as phishing or junk and delete it.

    If you’re genuinely concerned that you’ve missed an important healthcare communication, open the MyChart app or website yourself rather than following a link in an unsolicited message.

    That distinction is simple but powerful: go to the service yourself instead of letting the message take you there.

    Scammers Follow Familiarity

    This latest campaign also illustrates something we’ve seen repeatedly with scams: criminals follow whatever people trust.

    They impersonate banks because people trust their banks. They impersonate government agencies because people recognize government authority. They impersonate technology companies because consumers know their brands.

    Now they’re using a familiar healthcare brand.

    And healthcare information can be particularly valuable because it can contain details that go far beyond a credit card number.

    The fact that scammers are using the MyChart name should therefore serve as a warning to anyone who uses the platform, regardless of age.

    MyChart itself can still be used normally. The problem isn’t necessarily the healthcare portal. The problem is the person on the other end of a fraudulent message pretending to represent it.

    The safest response to an unexpected healthcare message is the same response that works against most phishing scams: slow down, don’t click, and verify independently.

    A free health kit isn’t worth handing a stranger your personal information.

     

  • Greg Collier 8:00 am on August 24, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Your Vacation Photos Could Help Scammers Find You 

    By Greg Collier

    Posting vacation photos while you’re still traveling has always carried some privacy risks. Now, cybersecurity experts warn that artificial intelligence is making those risks much more serious.

    A photo that seems to reveal nothing more than a nice dinner, a hotel room, or a scenic vacation spot can contain clues that help scammers determine where you are. And once criminals know your location, they may have a much easier time making a scam appear believable.

    AI Can Read More Into a Photo Than You Can

    Most people probably don’t think twice about what information is contained in a vacation picture. You might see a beach, a restaurant, or a city street. An AI system, however, can analyze details that humans might overlook.

    A sign in the background could contain the name of a business or neighborhood. A restaurant menu could reveal a city. Street signs, hotel logos, landmarks, and even distinctive vegetation can provide clues about where a photograph was taken.

    Cybersecurity experts have warned that scammers can use AI to analyze those clues and determine a traveler’s location even when the person never identifies it in the caption.

    That creates a new opportunity for scammers. Instead of sending a generic message to thousands of people, they can potentially tailor their approach to what they know about you and where you are.

    The Scam Could Start With Your Vacation

    Imagine posting a photograph from your hotel while you’re visiting another country.

    A few hours later, you receive a message claiming to be from the airline. There’s supposedly a problem with your reservation, and you need to pay a small fee immediately.

    Or perhaps a message claims to come from the hotel, saying your credit card didn’t process correctly and asking you to click a link to update your payment information.

    The scammer doesn’t have to guess that you’re traveling. Your photograph has already provided the clue.

    Another version could involve impersonating a government agency. A scammer who determines that you’re overseas could send a frightening message claiming that you’ve failed to pay an exit tax or another travel-related fee. The demand might be relatively small, but the threat could be much more serious.

    Pay immediately, the message might claim, or face problems at customs the next time you travel.

    That’s the kind of pressure scammers love.

    Your Family Could Become the Target

    There’s another potentially disturbing use for information from vacation posts.

    Scammers may not necessarily contact you at all.

    Suppose your social media posts reveal that you’re traveling. They could combine that information with other publicly available details about your family and friends. AI-generated voices could then make it possible to impersonate you in a phone call.

    A relative could receive a call supposedly from you, claiming that you’re stranded, injured, or having trouble while traveling.

    “I need help.”

    “I lost my wallet.”

    “I’m in trouble and need money.”

    Those stories are much more convincing when the scammer actually knows that you’re on vacation.

    The relative may even see your recent vacation photographs on social media and think, Of course they’re traveling. This must be real.

    The Problem With Posting in Real Time

    There’s nothing inherently dangerous about sharing vacation photographs. The problem is when you share them and how much information they reveal.

    Posting a photograph after you return home is very different from announcing to the world that you’re currently sitting at a particular restaurant hundreds or thousands of miles away.

    Real-time posts can potentially tell criminals that your home is vacant. They can also provide information about your itinerary, hotel, travel companions, and approximate location.

    AI potentially makes all of that information easier to analyze.

    That means the harmless-looking photograph of your family enjoying dinner could become one piece of a much larger information puzzle.

    Don’t Trust a Message Just Because It Knows Where You Are

    This is an important point for travelers.

    If you receive a message that appears to come from an airline, hotel, government agency, restaurant, or financial institution and the sender knows you’re traveling, that doesn’t prove the message is legitimate.

    In fact, knowing that you’re traveling could be the reason the scammer contacted you in the first place.

    Don’t click the link in the message. Don’t call the telephone number provided in it. Instead, find the organization’s legitimate website or use its official app and contact the company through a channel you know is genuine.

    The same rule applies if someone contacts you claiming to be a family member.

    If a relative suddenly says they are in trouble and need money, contact them using a phone number you already have for them. Don’t rely on the number or communication method provided by the person contacting you.

    Your Vacation Doesn’t Need a Live Broadcast

    The simplest defense may also be one of the easiest.

    Consider waiting until you get home before posting your vacation photographs.

    If you do post while traveling, review what the photograph reveals. Look for hotel names, street signs, boarding passes, restaurant receipts, room numbers, and other identifying information. Check your social media privacy settings and consider limiting who can see your posts.

    You don’t have to assume every vacation photograph is going to be analyzed by a criminal. But you should recognize that today’s scammers have tools that didn’t exist a few years ago.

    The old advice was to think twice before sharing too much personal information online.

    With AI becoming increasingly capable of extracting information from photographs, “too much information” may now include things you never realized you were revealing.

    Your vacation photos are supposed to be memories. Don’t accidentally turn them into a roadmap for a scammer.

     

  • Greg Collier 8:00 am on August 21, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    There Is No Low Too Low for Scammers 

    There Is No Low Too Low for Scammers

    By Greg Collier

    There are plenty of things scammers will pretend to be. They might pose as government officials, police officers, bank employees, delivery companies, romantic partners, or even someone’s own family members.

    But there are some scams that are so cynical that they serve as a reminder of just how far criminals are willing to go.

    A recent warning from New York officials involves a group calling itself the “Jewish Holocaust Claims Center,” which contacted Holocaust survivors and their families and encouraged them to submit claims for compensation.

    The name alone was apparently designed to sound legitimate. The problem is that New York’s Department of Financial Services could not verify the identity, services, or legitimacy of the organization.

    The state referred the matter to law enforcement and reported the group’s website to its hosting provider. The website has since been taken down.

    The episode is disturbing for more than the obvious reason. It demonstrates that when scammers see an opportunity to make money, there may be virtually no tragedy, vulnerable population, or painful chapter of history that they will not exploit.

    Exploiting People Who Have Already Suffered

    Holocaust survivors represent an especially troubling target.

    These are people who endured one of the most horrific periods in human history. Many have spent decades dealing with the consequences of persecution, displacement, and the loss of family members and property.

    The idea that someone would deliberately invoke that history to make a fraudulent approach is difficult to comprehend.

    Yet that is precisely why these scams can work.

    Scammers understand that people are more likely to respond to an organization that appears to understand their circumstances. A group with a name suggesting that it specializes in Holocaust restitution could sound more credible to someone who actually has a legitimate connection to the subject.

    The scam reportedly involved unsolicited correspondence encouraging survivors and their families to pursue compensation. That is particularly concerning because legitimate restitution programs do exist.

    New York’s Holocaust Claims Processing Office, or HCPO, has spent decades helping Holocaust victims and their heirs recover assets, including money deposited in European banks, unpaid insurance proceeds, and artworks that were lost, looted, or sold under duress. The office does not charge claimants for its services.

    That legitimate history gives scammers an authentic story to imitate.

    The Real Program Makes the Scam More Convincing

    This is one of the oldest tricks in the scammer’s playbook.

    Criminals rarely have to invent an entirely fictional world. Instead, they take something real and build a fraud around it.

    There really are Holocaust restitution programs. There really are people who may have legitimate claims. And there really are organizations and government offices that help survivors and their families recover assets.

    That makes a fake organization with a plausible name considerably more convincing than an obviously fraudulent operation.

    According to New York officials, the state’s HCPO has received claims from all 50 states and 53 countries since its creation in 1997. It has helped return more than $184 million in assets to victims’ families and recovered 356 cultural objects.

    A scammer can exploit the public’s awareness of those legitimate programs without having any legitimate connection to them.

    That is why a professional-looking website or an official-sounding organization name should never be treated as proof that a solicitation is legitimate.

    Trust Can Be a Scammer’s Most Valuable Tool

    The most effective scams are not necessarily the ones with the most sophisticated technology.

    They are often the ones that create trust quickly.

    A scammer may use an official-looking name, a convincing website, professional language, or a familiar story. The objective is to get the victim to lower their guard before asking for personal information, financial details, or money.

    That is why unsolicited contact should always be treated carefully, particularly when the message involves financial compensation.

    A legitimate opportunity does not become legitimate simply because someone contacted you about it.

    In fact, an unsolicited offer of money should often be a reason to slow down.

    The People Who Help Can Be Part of the Defense

    The New York warning also highlights the importance of trusted organizations.

    Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York provides assistance to Holocaust survivors and their families, including help with medical needs, transportation, food insecurity, and financial assistance. The organization serves 35 Holocaust survivors and their families, and none had reported being contacted by this particular scam at the time of the NEWS10 report.

    More importantly, survivors have a trusted point of contact they can turn to when they receive something they do not understand or are unsure about.

    That relationship can be an important defense against fraud.

    The same principle applies far beyond this particular scam. Families, caregivers, community organizations, financial professionals, and social service agencies can all play a role in helping people verify unexpected requests.

    The goal is not to make people suspicious of everything. It is to give them someone they trust to consult before making an important decision.

    The Scam May Be Gone, but the Tactic Will Return

    The website associated with the “Jewish Holocaust Claims Center” has been removed, but taking down one website does not eliminate the underlying problem.

    Scammers can create another website, change the name of the organization, and send emails instead of letters. Or, they can make phone calls and impersonate a legitimate government office or nonprofit.

    The specific scam may disappear, but the strategy remains.

    And that strategy is remarkably adaptable.

    If scammers can exploit Holocaust restitution, they can exploit disaster relief, veterans’ benefits, Social Security, inheritances, tax refunds, charitable donations, and medical assistance.

    Any legitimate program involving money and vulnerable people can become an opportunity for fraud.

    There Is No Tragedy Too Sacred

    Perhaps the most disturbing lesson from this case is also the simplest.

    There is no length to which some scammers won’t stoop.

    A scammer sees an opportunity. The victim sees a message about compensation, assistance, or justice. Behind the message may be nothing more than a criminal looking for someone who will provide personal information or money.

    The fact that the scam involves Holocaust survivors makes it particularly repugnant, but it should also remind everyone that fraud does not respect tragedy.

    Scammers have repeatedly demonstrated that they will exploit fear, grief, loneliness, generosity, and hope. They will impersonate loved ones, invent emergencies, and manufacture opportunities. And when a legitimate program exists, they may simply pretend to be part of it.

    That is why the best defense is not assuming that some scams are too horrible to be real.

    The better defense is learning to verify.

    If an unsolicited message claims that you are entitled to compensation, do not use the contact information provided in the message to verify it. Find the legitimate organization independently and contact it through information you know to be genuine.

    And if someone claims to represent New York’s Holocaust Claims Processing Office, the state says survivors and their families can contact the office directly to verify whether a communication is legitimate.

    The victims of the Holocaust endured unimaginable suffering. They should never have to wonder whether an offer of restitution is another attempt to exploit them.

    Unfortunately, the latest scam shows that even that most basic expectation cannot be taken for granted.

     

  • Greg Collier 8:00 am on August 19, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    The Marketplace Scam That Targets Sellers 

    By Greg Collier

    When people hear about online shopping scams, they usually think about buyers getting ripped off. Someone pays for an item that never arrives, receives something completely different from what was advertised, or sends money to a fake seller.

    But there is another side to the equation that is easy to overlook.

    Sellers can be scammed, too.

    A recent warning from Augusta, Georgia, highlights a scheme targeting people who are trying to sell furniture, electronics, and other items through Facebook Marketplace. The scam involves fake buyers, fake payment notifications, and a simple trick designed to convince sellers to send their own money to a stranger.

    And while Facebook Marketplace is the platform highlighted in this particular warning, there is nothing uniquely Facebook about the scheme.

    The same tactic can be used against people selling items through virtually any other online classifieds or marketplace platform.

    The Fake Buyer Arrives Quickly

    The scam often begins with something that seems encouraging.

    You put an item up for sale and almost immediately receive a message asking whether it is still available.

    The person doesn’t spend much time negotiating. They may quickly agree to your asking price and appear eager to complete the transaction. They might then ask to move the conversation from the marketplace’s messaging system to text.

    That speed can actually be part of the trap.

    The supposed buyer may ask whether you accept Venmo, Zelle or another electronic payment service. They then claim they have sent the money.

    You check your account.

    Nothing is there.

    That’s when the fake buyer’s story begins.

    The Fake Payment Problem

    Instead of seeing money in your payment account, you may receive an email that appears to come from Venmo or another payment service.

    The message claims there is a problem with your account.

    Perhaps the supposed buyer used a business account. Maybe your account needs to be upgraded. Whatever the explanation, the email eventually leads to the same demand:

    You need to send money before you can receive money.

    The seller may be told to send several hundred dollars to upgrade the account or unlock the payment. The scammer may even promise that the money will be returned once the transaction is completed.

    It sounds complicated enough to be believable.

    But there is nothing to unlock.

    The original payment never existed.

    The email is fake.

    And if the seller sends the requested money, that money is very real.

    Why This Scam Works

    One reason this scam can be effective is that it takes advantage of something sellers are already expecting.

    They are expecting someone to pay them.

    They are also accustomed to receiving automated emails and notifications from payment services.

    A message saying that a payment is pending or that an account needs to be upgraded doesn’t necessarily look strange at first glance.

    There is also a psychological element.

    The seller believes a transaction is already underway. They don’t want to lose the buyer, so a relatively small payment may seem like an annoying but temporary inconvenience.

    That’s exactly what the scammer wants.

    The victim isn’t thinking, “I’m sending money to a stranger.”

    They’re thinking, “I’m fixing a problem so I can get my money.”

    A Screenshot Is Not a Payment

    This is why one of the most important rules for selling online is simple:

    Never consider yourself paid until the money actually appears in your account.

    Don’t trust a screenshot from a buyer.

    Don’t trust an email saying you’ve been paid.

    Don’t trust a text message saying the payment is pending.

    And don’t trust a buyer who tells you that you need to send money to receive your money.

    Open the actual payment application or website yourself and check the account.

    If the payment isn’t there, you haven’t been paid.

    Look at the Buyer, but Don’t Trust the Profile

    Checking a potential buyer’s profile can provide useful information.

    A brand-new account, little activity, or an almost empty profile can be a warning sign.

    But scammers know that, too.

    A convincing profile doesn’t necessarily mean you’re dealing with a real person. Fraudsters can use stolen photographs and other information to make fake accounts appear authentic.

    So don’t let a photograph, a long list of friends, or a few old posts convince you that someone is legitimate.

    Those things may provide clues, but they aren’t proof.

    Don’t Let a Buyer Create the Rules

    Another warning sign is a buyer who tries to dictate unusual payment procedures.

    A legitimate buyer shouldn’t need you to pay a fee to receive their payment.

    They shouldn’t need you to “upgrade” your account by sending them money.

    They shouldn’t send you a check and ask you to return part of it.

    They shouldn’t ask you to purchase gift cards.

    And they shouldn’t pressure you to move money around because of some problem they claim exists with your payment account.

    If someone tells you that you have to send them money before they can pay you, stop.

    That’s not how selling something works.

    The Old “Buyer Beware” Rule Works Both Ways

    For generations, consumers have been warned to follow the principle of buyer beware.

    Online classifieds have changed the equation.

    Today, sellers need to be just as cautious.

    A person who responds to your advertisement may not be interested in buying your item at all. They may be interested in your bank account.

    That’s particularly important when the supposed buyer seems almost too eager. A buyer who immediately accepts your price, wants to move the conversation off the platform, and then introduces an unusual payment problem should raise questions.

    The best defense is to slow the transaction down.

    Check your account yourself. Verify communications independently. Don’t send money to receive money. And never let a stranger’s artificial sense of urgency dictate what you do with your own money.

    The item you’re selling might be worth $100.

    The scammer may be hoping to make you send them $500 instead.

    On the internet, sellers need to remember that they’re not just selling an item. They’re also advertising themselves as a potential target.

     

  • Greg Collier 8:00 am on August 17, 2026 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , ,   

    The FEMA Scam That Follows Disasters 

    By Greg Collier

    A natural disaster can turn life upside down in a matter of hours. Roads flood, homes are damaged, power can disappear, and people suddenly need help with everything from emergency shelter to insurance claims and repairs.

    Unfortunately, there is another group that seems to arrive quickly when disaster strikes: scammers.

    That is the warning coming from police in Cambridge City, Indiana, where residents are dealing with the aftermath of recent heavy rains and flooding. Authorities have warned that people may be posing as Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, responders.

    There had not been reports of FEMA impersonators inside Cambridge City at the time of the warning, but police said similar reports had surfaced in nearby communities. Authorities also emphasized that FEMA was not currently operating in Cambridge City.

    That distinction is important because disaster victims are often expecting legitimate government workers to show up at their doors.

    A scammer knows that.

    A FEMA Vest Can Be a Powerful Prop

    Imagine that your basement has flooded. Maybe your roof has been damaged. Perhaps you have lost possessions, your home is temporarily unlivable, or you are trying to figure out how you are going to pay for repairs.

    Then someone knocks on your door.

    They introduce themselves as a FEMA representative. They may have an identification badge, a government-looking shirt, or even a vehicle that appears official. They tell you they are there to inspect the damage or help you apply for assistance.

    Under normal circumstances, you might be suspicious.

    After a disaster, you might be relieved.

    That is precisely what makes these scams so dangerous.

    The Cambridge City Police Department advised residents not to provide personal information or allow someone claiming to be a FEMA responder access to their homes. If someone suspicious appears at the door, police said residents should call 911 and, if it can be done safely, take a photograph or video of the person or vehicle. They specifically cautioned people not to put themselves in danger to obtain evidence.

    The Scammer Doesn’t Have to Be FEMA

    FEMA impersonation is only one version of a much larger disaster-scam problem.

    After a major storm, hurricane, tornado, wildfire, flood, earthquake, or other catastrophe, scammers can impersonate almost anyone involved in the recovery process.

    They could claim to be government employees, insurance representatives, utility workers, contractors, charity workers, debris-removal companies, or even representatives of a bank.

    The timing is what makes the deception work.

    A person who normally would never give a stranger personal information might be much more willing to cooperate when that stranger appears to be offering help after a disaster.

    The scammer might ask for a Social Security number to supposedly process disaster assistance. They might ask for banking information so a relief payment can be deposited. They could request copies of identification documents or photographs of property damage.

    And once that information is collected, the disaster may become an opportunity for identity theft.

    FEMA itself has warned that criminals can use stolen names, addresses, and Social Security numbers belonging to disaster victims to apply for assistance fraudulently.

    Then Come the Contractors

    There is another scam that often follows natural disasters.

    The storm passes, but the scammers stay.

    A person may knock on your door claiming to be a contractor who can repair your roof, remove debris or fix flood damage. The scammer might insist that immediate work is necessary and demand a large deposit.

    Sometimes the person may actually perform some work. It simply may not be the work that was promised.

    Other times, the contractor disappears after receiving the money.

    Disaster victims are particularly vulnerable because waiting weeks for a legitimate contractor may not be an option. If a tree has fallen through the roof or floodwater has damaged the house, homeowners understandably want someone there immediately.

    That urgency is precisely what a scammer wants.

    Fake Charities Can Appear Overnight

    Disasters also create opportunities for another familiar scam: fake charitable appeals.

    Within hours of a catastrophe, social media can fill with photographs, emotional stories, and requests for donations.

    Some may be legitimate.

    Others may not be.

    A scammer can create a convincing-looking charity, copy photographs from legitimate organizations, or claim to be collecting money for specific victims. The goal is to exploit the public’s desire to help while the disaster is still fresh in everyone’s mind.

    The same principle applies to crowdfunding campaigns.

    A heartbreaking story can make people reach for their wallets before they stop to determine whether the person or organization collecting the money is legitimate.

    Disaster Scams Can Target Renters, Too

    People who have been displaced by a disaster face another problem: finding somewhere to live.

    That creates an opening for rental scammers.

    A scammer can advertise a house or apartment supposedly available for displaced residents and demand a deposit before providing the keys.

    The victim may be told that the property is in high demand and that somebody else will take it if they don’t pay immediately.

    After a disaster, that pressure can be extremely effective.

    The victim isn’t simply looking for a better apartment. They may be looking for somewhere to sleep that night.

    The Disaster Is the Hook

    The important lesson from the Cambridge City warning is not simply to watch out for fake FEMA workers.

    It is to recognize a broader pattern.

    Scammers follow the headlines.

    When something important happens, criminals look for ways to incorporate that event into their schemes. A hurricane creates hurricane scams. A wildfire creates wildfire scams. Flooding creates flood scams. A major government program creates government impersonation scams.

    The subject changes.

    The strategy doesn’t.

    Create urgency. Establish authority. Ask for information or money. Keep the victim from taking enough time to verify the story.

    That strategy can work particularly well when people are frightened, displaced, or overwhelmed.

    Don’t Let a Disaster Become a Second Disaster

    If someone shows up at your home claiming to represent FEMA or another government agency, don’t assume that the uniform, identification badge, or official-looking vehicle proves anything.

    Don’t hand over personal information simply because someone says it is required.

    Don’t let an unexpected visitor into your home.

    And don’t allow the urgency of the situation to prevent you from verifying who you are dealing with.

    The Cambridge City Police Department advises residents who encounter someone suspicious claiming to be a FEMA responder to contact 911. If it is safe, residents can document the person or vehicle, but personal safety should come first.

    Most importantly, remember that disaster recovery is a long process, and legitimate assistance doesn’t require you to blindly trust the first person who arrives offering help.

    The storm may be unpredictable.

    The scammers aren’t.

    They are simply looking for the next crisis.

     

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