Updates from February, 2022 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Geebo 9:00 am on February 7, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Venmo scam targets online sellers 

    Venmo scam targets online sellers

    By Greg Collier

    When selling your items online, both sellers and buyers often have to deal with scammers. No matter what platform you use, whether it’s Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist, the potential for being scammed is high. However, as a quick aside, Geebo.com takes steps than most platforms to try to minimize our users from being scammed. But back to the matter at hand, many of these scams revolve around the payment of whatever item is being sold. In the early days of online marketplaces, the phony check scam was the main scam that separated victims from their money. While that scam is still prevalent, digital payment scams have become the preferred tool of choice for scammers. Since the payments are made instantly, the scammers don’t have to wait as long for the payment and can disappear even quicker.

    A number of residents in the Boston area, have come forward to the local news media claiming that they’ve been scammed through the Venmo payment app. One online seller states she was selling a mirror online for $30. The supposed buyer sent her a Venmo payment for $900. According to the seller, the Venmo website said she could just send the money back to the buyer, so that’s what the seller did. A few days later, her Venmo account was suspended, emptied of the money that was in there, and Venmo was asking for additional funds to cover the $900 return.

    Scammers will often open Venmo accounts using stolen identities and credit card information. By the time the credit card company or bank catches on, the scammer has already made several Venmo transactions that will come back as fraudulent. Since Venmo can’t get the money back from the scammers, they’ll often try to reclaim the money from the scammer’s victim.

    If you’re selling something online, and the buyer sends you more than the asking amount, that’s a huge red flag that they might be trying to scam you. If you receive a Venmo payment more than what you’re asking, do not just send it back. Even if it’s a legitimate mistake on the part of the buyer, ask them to reverse the payment instead.

    Please keep in mind that Venmo was mainly designed to be used between friends and family. If you’re selling online, consider using another form of payment, such as cash or PayPal, even though those can come with scams of their own.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on February 4, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , ,   

    Zelle scam shows no signs of stopping 

    Zelle scam shows no signs of stopping

    By Greg Collier

    It’s been a few weeks since we last talked about the ongoing scams taking place through the Zelle banking app. If this is the first you’re hearing about it, these scams have been going on since at least this past fall. It starts when you get a text message that appears to come from your bank. The text message asks if you’ve recently made a large purchase or payment. You’re then asked to reply either yes or no to the text message. When you reply to the text message, your reply will be followed up with a phone call from scammers posing as your bank’s fraud department. The scammers will walk you through a process on the Zelle app that the scammers say will protect your account from any fraudulent activity. What’s really going on is the scammers are instructing you on how to put your money in the scammer’s account.

    The city of Charlotte, North Carolina, recently saw a dramatic increase in this scam. At least eight victims contacted the local ABC News affiliate saying they had been scammed through Zelle. Now, that may not seem like a lot of people being scammed, but you have to keep a couple of things in mind. The first is that not everyone who is scammed comes forward. Many people are too embarrassed to come forward after being scammed. This is why no one should ever be criticized for falling for one of these scams. The other thing is, scammers only need to find a handful of victims to make the scam profitable.

    For example, one of the victims who came forward in Charlotte said they lost $3500 to the scammers. Let’s just say that each of the victims lost a comparable amount. That’s $28,000 that a scammer potentially made in two weeks.

    If you receive a text message from your bank asking about a transaction, do not reply to it. Instead, call your bank’s customer service number on the back of your debit card or on the bank’s website. If you’ve lost money to this scam, it’s recommended that you file a police report right away before contacting your bank. This is not a guarantee you’ll get your money back, but in some instances it has helped. Lastly, if you use Zelle, think about opening a separate account with your bank that only has a small amount in it for Zelle transactions. That way if a scammer does get access to your Zelle the loss will be at a minimum.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on February 3, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: book exchange, gift exchange, , ,   

    Social media book drive is anything but 

    Social media book drive is anything but

    By Greg Collier

    A new gift exchange has been circulating around social media. This time, instead of holiday presents, you’re expected to exchange books. On the surface, this may seem like a great idea, since many of us have books that we’ve read that are taking up space. Plus, it’s a great feeling when you get to share a book you love with a new reader. The best part is that this exchange is relatively free, since many of us have an excess of books already. How could this possibly a bad thing?

    You may see a post or a message on social media that come from a trusted friend who recommends this book exchange. All you have to do is provide your name and email address, along with the names and email addresses of a few of your friends. Then you’re asked to send a book to someone who already signed up for the exchange, and in return, you’re supposed to receive 36 books.

    If this sounds familiar to you, it may be because it sounds exactly like the Secret Sister Gift Exchange or the Blessing Loom scheme. They’re all pyramid schemes, and in the book exchange scheme instead of money, the schemers are more than likely looking for your personal information for future identity theft. Keep in mind, even if it’s just books being exchanged, pyramid schemes are still illegal in the United States. If you recruit others into the scheme, you could potentially face legal action.

    Even if the exchange seems to be for a good cause with a good return, the odds are, you’re not getting any books. Pyramid schemes are designed to only benefit those at the top of the pyramid. After a couple of levels, the giving stops abruptly and the lower tiers are left with nothing. On top of it, you’ve potentially exposed the information about you and your friends to complete strangers.

     

  • Geebo 9:06 am on February 2, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , ,   

    What was the biggest social media scam of 2021? 

    What was the biggest social media scam of 2021?

    By Greg Collier

    On its surface, social media is a remarkable tool. When social media first took off, it let us get in touch with friends and family who we may not have seen for years. It’s let us stay in contact with those friends and family. Now it’s advanced to the point where it has become a daily part of our lives where we get news, find jobs, and conduct commerce among its many other uses. But like any tool designed to bring us closer together, it can also be used for nefarious purposes. This not exclusive to just social media. Back in the days of landline phones, they were great until the advent of telemarketing. However, social media is now going through its telemarketing-like phase when it comes to scammers.

    If you’ve been using social media for a while, the odds are you’ve come across a scam and may not have even known it. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans lost a combined $770 million to social media scammers, and those are only the scams that were reported. The biggest money loser for social media scam victims were investment scams. However, the largest number of scams on social media involved online shopping. This mostly entailed people ordering through ads they saw on social media and never received their item. Most of those who reported an online shopping loss said that the ads were mostly on Facebook or Instagram. Just because someone can buy an ad on these platforms in no way guarantees they are a legitimate business.

    Anytime, you’re about to make an online purchase from a retailer or vendor you’ve never heard of before, do your research to make sure they’re not going to scam you. You can do what’s known as a whois search to make sure the website is not being run from overseas. Also check their contact information. If you can only contact them through email, it could be a scam. You can also do a web search with the name of the retailer along with the phrases complaints or scam. Lastly, you can always check with the Better Business Bureau website to see if the BBB has received any complaints about the business.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on February 1, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    College test scammers are targeting kids 

    College test scammers are targeting kids

    By Greg Collier

    If you have a child who’s getting ready for college, you’re probably aware of the ACT and SAT tests. These are the standardized tests most colleges and universities use in their application process. With these tests come a lot of preparation and an enormous amount of pressure for the students getting ready to take them. This is what could potentially make them the perfect targets for scammers.

    The Better Business Bureau is warning parents to be aware of scammers posing as the companies who run the ACT and the SAT. They are two separate companies, in case you weren’t aware of that. A mother in Ohio recently received a phone call from someone asking for her daughter, who’s already been accepted to a university. The caller said they were from the ACT and asked for the daughter by name. They tried to convince the mother that her daughter had requested study materials and needed to verify her information. Since the daughter had already been accepted to a school, the mother knew this was a scam. However, some parents and students alike may not be aware of such scams.

    Minors are often the targets of identity thieves. If these thieves get a hold of enough information on a child, they can use that information in a few years to open lines of credit in the minor’s name. This means the child could have a ruined credit history as soon as they turn 18.

    If you’re a parent and receive any communications from someone claiming to be from the ACT or SAT, verify that information before replying to them. If they ask for one of your children by name, and they’re not actually with the ACT or SAT, you may want to run a credit report on your child to make sure their identity hasn’t already been stolen. If it has, you’ll want to put a credit freeze on your child’s credit.

    Also keep in mind that the two tests are run by two separate companies. Anyone who is claiming to represent both, is more than likely a scammer.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 31, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , ,   

    Are more scammers asking for Bitcoin? 

    By Greg Collier

    Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned consumers they’ve seen a rise in scammers using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Traditionally, scammers usually lean toward trying to collect money from their victims through means like gift cards and money transfers. That’s because gift cards and money transfers are things that most people understand. Meanwhile, if you say cryptocurrency to most consumers, you’ll get a puzzled look. However, the FTC says that scammers have come up with a new and easy way to get victims to pay in cryptocurrency.

    According to the FTC, scammers are now getting their victims to scan QR Codes with their phones. Once a victim scams the QR Code with their phone, the victim just paid the scammer in cryptocurrency. Fortunately, there’s a process that needs to take place before scanning the code that should tip you off that you’re being scammed. The FTC warning states that the scammers will try to get you to go to a Bitcoin ATM, to scan the code. In other instances, the scammers will try to get you to move money out of your bank before getting you to scan the code.

    For example, a man from Athens, Georgia, was recently taken for $45,000 in a tech support scam. A computer pop-up told him his computer had been infected with a virus, and he needed to call Microsoft at a number listed on the pop-up. The scammers told him his computer and phone had been compromised, and he needed to move his money to a cryptocurrency account to protect it. After he moved his money, the scammers gave him a QR code to scan. Once the victim did that, his money was gone, having been transferred to the scammer.

    In most consumer cases, cryptocurrency should be treated just like gift cards. The vast majority of businesses and agencies do not ask for payment in Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. While cryptocurrency is not untraceable, it is extremely difficult to get back once it’s been sent from one crypto wallet to another. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are still only used in niche circles, despite what its more vocal proponents will tell you.

    So, if someone contacts you and asks for payment in Bitcoin, it’s more than likely a scam.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 28, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Grant money scam returns to social media 

    Grant money scam returns to social media

    By Greg Collier

    When we say the government grant scam has returned to social media, it really never left. However, we’ve seen a number of reports about the scam this week. The way the scam typically works is you’ll receive a message on social media from a friend, telling you they received substantial grant money from the government, and you can too. In reality, your friend’s social media account has been hacked and is being used by scammers. In what’s known as the advance fee scam, the scammers will try to get you to pay fictitious taxes or a processing fee to get the phony grant. This can end up costing a victim of this scam thousands of dollars.

    For example, a woman in Nebraska recently fell victim to this scam. She had received a message from a relative on Facebook. The message said she could receive $100,000 in grant money. She thought the grant was some form of pandemic financial assistance. She ended up paying $5,000 to the scammers in prepaid debit cards. Not only was she dealt a financial loss, but scammers may have stolen her identity as well. The scammers had asked her for a copy of her driver’s license as part of the phony application process. With that kind of information, identity thieves can open any number of financial accounts in the victim’s name.

    The way you can tell this is a scam is that the government doesn’t ask for money when approving an actual grant. And if the government did ask for money, they wouldn’t ask for it in prepaid debit cards or gift cards. If you receive one of these messages on social media, do not respond to it. Instead, use another method of communication to let your friend or relative know that their account may have been compromised. Since this scam often targets elderly victims, you may want to inform any older relatives you might have if they are active on social media.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 27, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , keylogger, , , ,   

    Scammers sending USB drives in the mail 

    Scammers sending USB drives in the mail

    By Greg Collier

    If you own a computer, you’ve probably used a USB drive. Sometimes they’re also referred to as flash drives or thumb drives. They’re a great tool to help you either back up important files, or transfer files from one computer to another. However, they can also be used in cyberattacks.

    The FBI recently issued a warning that USB drives are being sent through the mail. The drives are being attached to fliers that promise you a free gift card to Amazon or some other well-known retailer. The instructions say that in order to redeem the gift cards, you’ll need to put the USB drive into your computer.

    If you do put the drive into your computer, a few things could happen. The FBI is saying that many of these drives contain ransomware. Ransomware locks up your computer and encrypts your files before asking for a ransom payment to get your files back. The drives could also contain key logging software which sends everything you type back to the scammer. This could include sensitive information such as account logins, passwords, and anything else you type.

    These drives are not only being sent to individuals, but businesses as well. One good ransomware target could cripple an entire business.

    The best defense against these attacks is to never put a strange USB drive in your computer. Whether it’s one you found on the ground, or one you receive in the mail, USB drives that you didn’t buy personally should be seen as suspicious. If you put a strange USB into your computer, you’re risking not only compromising your computer, but potentially other computers in your home or business network as well.

    If you receive one of the USB drives promising you a free gift card, you’re asked to contact the FBI at their website.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 26, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , ,   

    Dangerous scam spoofs your family’s phone number 

    By Greg Collier

    Virtual kidnapping scams have been in the news more often than usual lately. This leads us to believe there has been an increase in these harrowing incidents. Typically, in a virtual kidnapping scam, the scammers will call you and claim to have a loved one of yours hostage. They’ll then tell you they will release their hostage if you pay a ransom. The ransom is usually asked for in untraceable means like cryptocurrency, money transfer, or gift cards. Since the advent of the virtual kidnapping scam, the scammers have gotten more aggressive when approaching their victims on the phone.

    For example, a woman from the San Francisco Bay Area recently received a virtual kidnapping call that appeared to come from her mother’s phone number. The caller said he was with the woman’s mother and would harm her if a ransom wasn’t paid. The caller demanded $500 to paid through the Zelle app. After she made the first payment, the scammer demanded another payment of $400, which she paid. The scammer ended the call and the woman called her mother, who had been fine the entire time.

    This story shows a couple of disturbing things. While it’s relatively easy to spoof a phone number, this scammer specifically targeted the woman by obtaining her mother’s phone number. That means the scammer had to at least stalked the family’s social media accounts. Secondly, the scammer used the Zelle banking app to collect the ransom. With stories like this, it seems like Zelle is quickly becoming the app of choice for scammers. Zelle has been used by scammers in several other scams as well.

    As we always like to remind our readers, kidnappings for ransom, while not unheard of, are actually rare in the United States. However, when someone receives one of these phone calls, the pressure of the situation may not allow them to think rationally. If you receive one of these phone calls, the first thing you should do is try to contact the person they’ve claimed to have kidnapped. Since the scammer will try to keep you on the phone, try using another method of contacting your loved one such as text or email if another phone line is not available. These scammers will often have an accomplice posing as the hostage. If they let you speak with the person, ask them a question that only they would know. You can also set up a specific code word between you and your loved ones to verify their identity. Lastly, even if your loved one is safe, contact your local police and let them know what happened, especially if you paid money to the scammer through Zelle.

    In the past, people who have been scammed through Zelle did not get their money back. However, experts recommend that filing a police report will help when dealing with your bank.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 25, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Check washing scam hits Conn. town hard 

    Check washing scam hits Conn. town hard

    By Greg Collier

    Police in West Hartford, Connecticut, have been receiving an inordinate number of complaints from residents who had checks stolen from mailboxes. Thieves will steal mail from both residential and public mailboxes in hopes they’ll find a handwritten check. Once they find a check, the thieves will attempt to remove the ink in a process called check washing. The checks will be bathed in a chemical solution that removes the handwritten ink while leaving the rest of the check intact. This allows them to rewrite the check in any amount. As long as there are sufficient funds in the account, the check can be cashed.

    The West Hartford Police are saying that the thieves use a custom-made tool that allows them to steal mail from most mail collection boxes. They also say that the thieves have been taking outgoing mail from residential mailboxes as well. Banks will reimburse customers if their checks are stolen, but that won’t stop the inconvenience of a payment not reaching its intended recipient.

    The best way to protect yourself against check washing is switching to all electronic payments. However, in some cases, only a check can be used. In those cases, when mailing a check, make sure to drop it off inside the post office during business hours. Leaving it in a mail collection box overnight could leave you vulnerable to mail theft. There are also special pens you can buy that are resistant to check washing. Lastly, as a good rule of thumb, you should never leave outgoing mail containing a check in your home mailbox. More mail is stolen from home mailboxes than USPS mailboxes.

    While this most recent story of check washing comes from Connecticut, check washing is a problem that’s been affecting consumers nationwide.

     

← Older posts

Newer 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