Greg's Corner

Updates from September, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 26, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: grandparent scam ( 69 ), Scams ( 1,363 ), voice spoofing ( 21 )   

  New version of grandparent scam changes the target 

  

  By Greg Collier

  If you haven’t heard of the grandparent scam, it’s called that because it mostly targets the elderly. The way it works is, scammers will call their elderly target and pose as one of the target’s grandchildren. The call usually starts with the scammer saying something like “Grampa?”. They’re hoping the target will respond with a grandchild’s name by replying with something along the lines of, “Is this Brandon?”. The scammer will reply with yes to no matter what name they’re supplied with. Then the real grift begins.

  While posing as the grandchild, the scammer will tell their target they’ve gotten into legal trouble and need money to fix the situation. Typically, the phony grandchild will claim they’ve been in a car accident that was their fault and need money for bail or some other legal fee. Sometimes, the call is passed off to the scammer’s partner, who will pose as the police, a bail bondsman, or attorney to add an element of urgency to the target.

  Payment is usually asked for through means that are hard to recover, such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, or through payment apps like Zelle, Cash App and Venmo. The target is also instructed not to tell anyone else in the family, sometimes under the threat of a gag order.

  That’s how the grandparent scam traditionally worked until the development of AI voice-spoofing technology. Now, the grandparent scam has become more focused, with scammers targeting specific victims instead of random elderly people.

  With that development, the Better Business Bureau has issued a warning that scammers have also flipped the script on the grandparent scam. According to the BBB, scammers are now posing as grandparents in distress on these scam phone calls. Thanks to AI voice-spoofing, scammers are now targeting children and grandchildren instead of just the elderly with this scam. You can imagine how panicked this would make the victim of this new version of the scam.

  However, the ways to protect yourself remain the same. Educating your family about the scam is the best defense. Your family should also set up a code word you can use to verify the identity of the person who is calling. Or, you could ask the caller a question only they would know the answer to. Lastly, don’t believe your ears when you get a call like this, it may sound like your loved one, but now, scammers can mimic any voice down to a T.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 25, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: cybersecurity ( 37 ), Facebook ( 178 ), Facebook Marketplace ( 62 ), hacking ( 31 ), Scams ( 1,363 )   

  Facebook Account Hijacking: How Scammers Exploit Lost Control 

  

  By Greg Collier

  For some, losing control of your Facebook account may not seem like a big deal. You may only use Facebook sparingly to keep in touch with a handful of friends and relatives. If you lose access to your account, you can just open a new one and send new friend requests while telling your friends list you got hacked. However, letting your Facebook account remain in the hands of hackers can not only leave your friends and family vulnerable to scams, it could also lead to frustrated strangers showing up at your door.

  For example, a woman from Alabama lost control of her Facebook account. Before she knew it, hackers took over her account and changed the password, locking her out of her own account. Then, the hackers posed as the woman and listed several items for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Once other Facebook users started responding to the listings, the hacker told the other users they were out of town, but would hold the item for them if they paid a deposit.

  As you can probably guess, the Facebook users who paid deposits never received the items they thought they were purchasing. Victims of this scam started showing up at the home of the woman who had her account hacked. Thankfully, those who did show up at her home were reasonable when they found out they were scammed. However, it’s no stretch of the imagination to think things may have taken a wrong turn if the wrong person got scammed.

  The woman stated that she’s trying to get Facebook to suspend her original account, but the hacked account is still active.

  Scammers like this love to get their hands on existing Facebook accounts because it makes their Marketplace scams appear legitimate since an active and older account is attached to the listings.

  In conclusion, safeguarding your Facebook account from potential hackers is not only crucial for your personal data but also for your online security. By following these tips and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to malicious activities. Remember to regularly update your password, enable two-factor authentication, review your privacy settings, and be cautious about the information you share online. Your Facebook account holds a treasure trove of personal information, and taking these proactive steps will help ensure that it remains secure.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 22, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: romance scam ( 70 ), Scams ( 1,363 )   

  Widow homeless after romance scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  As we featured in our last post about romance scams, romance scammers will lead their victims on for months before asking for any money. Meanwhile, these scammers are manipulating the emotions of people who are just looking to stave off loneliness. People whose partners have passed away are often targets for romance scammers.

  It’s not just a few bucks we’re talking about, either. We’ve seen reports where romance scam victims have lost anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars to over a million dollars. Romance scammers are in it for the long haul and are willing to wait a long time to get money like that. And it’s not just money that the victims lose.

  A widow from the state of Georgia struck up a relationship with a man she met online. The man claimed to have lost his wife as well. He also claimed to be a doctor working for the Red Cross in Yemen. If someone isn’t aware of how the romance scam works, they may just think they’ve met an incredible partner. Not only is the man supposedly a doctor, but he’s working for a charity overseas in a war-torn country.

  Those who are familiar with the scam will recognize the red flags. Romance scammers almost always claim to either have some high-paying position or are in the military. The Middle-East is a popular location for scammers to claim where they’re working at. Due to the political instabilities in many Middle-Eastern countries, scammers use these to concoct many excuses for either their money requests or why they can’t meet in person. We’ll get to more of that shortly.

  Getting back to the story at hand, the scammer in this story told the Georgia widow he wanted to buy a house with her in Cary, North Carolina. The scammer claimed he would pay $600,000 for the home, while all she would need to pay would be $78,000 that she needed to wire to him, which she did.

  She was provided with an address and pictures of the house in Cary. When she arrived there with all her belongings, she discovered someone was already living there. That’s when she realized she had been scammed. She tried confronting the scammer, but the scammer stuck with his story, even sending her a picture supposedly showing that he had been beaten up in Yemen.

  Now, the widow has very little to her name except for a camper which someone from a local church donated to her. She should be commended for having the bravery to share her story publicly, as many victims don’t. According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims lost more than a billion dollars to romance scams, and that’s only from the ones who came forward.

  Romance scams raise significant warning signals. These scams exclusively rely on online communication and often involve the perpetrator sharing a heart-wrenching narrative. Moreover, if at any point you are solicited for money, whether through wire transfers, Bitcoin purchases, or gift card requests, consider it a definitive indicator of a scam.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 21, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: identity theft ( 107 ), mystery box, online shopping ( 33 ), Scams ( 1,363 ), social media ( 79 ), TEMU ( 3 )   

  A TEMU scam that’s not TEMU’s fault 

  

  By Greg Collier

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

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

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

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

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 20, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: advance fee scam ( 45 ), Facebook Marketplace ( 62 ), gas pumps ( 3 ), jury duty scam ( 30 ), laptops ( 4 ), pump switching, Scams ( 1,363 ), subpoena   

  Scam Round Up: The gas pump switching scam and more 

  

  By Greg Collier

  There’s a new version of the advance fee scam circulating on Facebook Marketplace. An advance fee scam is when a scammer promises something valuable for free then asks for some type of payment for things like taxes or shipping.

  In this case, scammers are offering a free laptop, but it comes with a sob story. The ad claims the seller bought their spouse a new ‘laptop pro’, but they caught their spouse cheating and want to give the laptop away as a form of punishment.

  The ad almost tips itself off as being a scam, since the gender of the spouse switches back and forth in the description.

  “I am giving out this laptop Pro that I bought to surprise my husband for her birthday but then caught her cheating on me,” the scammer wrote. “I know I could sell it and get my money back, but I want to show her I gave it away for nothing like her is to me.”

  The catch is, once someone responds to the ad, the seller asks for a $70 shipping fee, and the laptop is never delivered. Scammers are also using hijacked Facebook accounts. So if you see a friend listing this for sale, you may want to let them know.

  ***

  A new version of the jury duty scam has popped up in Florida, and its targets are more vulnerable than the typical jury duty scam victim. Instead of just calling people at random and threatening them with arrest for supposedly missing jury duty, scammers are now targeting people who have actually been subpoenaed.

  Subpoenas are a matter of public record, and scammers are using these records to target their victims. Like the jury duty scam, the scammers are posing as the local police or court system and demanding cash from victims to avoid arrest. The scammers are asking their victims to meet them in person.

  However, also like the jury duty scam, no law enforcement agency or court will ever call you and threaten you with arrest if you don’t make an immediate payment. If any kind of legal fine ever needs to paid, a person would be notified by mail.

  ***

  Police in the Philadelphia area are warning consumers about a gas pump scam. They call it the pump switching scam, and it starts when someone approaches a victim at the gas pumps and insists on pumping their gas for them. According to the police, the scammers are quite insistent about it.

  If a victim agrees to this, the scammer won’t return the nozzle to the pump and will continue to fill the tanks of people who drive up for $20 cash. This will continue until the victim’s card hits its limit or the police arrive.

  To protect yourself from this scam, always return the nozzle to the pump and end the transaction. You can also prepay inside the gas station. If you do pay at the pump, also make sure you print out a receipt.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 19, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: AI voice ( 10 ), Scams ( 1,363 ), virtual kidnapping ( 45 ), voice cloning ( 24 ), voice spoofing ( 21 )   

  The sheer terror of the kidnapping scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Even if someone has complete knowledge of how a certain scam works, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t fall victim to it, due to how some scams are completely menacing. Take, for example, the virtual kidnapping scam. This is when a scammer calls someone and claims to have kidnapped their loved one before making a ransom demand. Meanwhile, the supposed kidnap victim is unharmed and has no idea they’re being used in a scam. With the advancement of AI voice-spoofing technology, scammers can easily mimic the voice of the victim’s loved one to make the scam seem even more threatening.

  With that knowledge in mind, we may think we wouldn’t fall for such a scam as we sit at our keyboards and screens. But can you say that with 100% confidence? Before you answer, you should know the story of an Atlanta father who fell victim to the scam.

  He received a call from someone who claimed they kidnapped his adult daughter. At the time of the call, the man’s daughter was traveling. This could be why the man was targeted, as scammers often take information they find on social media and use it to their advantage. The caller claimed he got into a car accident with the man’s daughter and that they were carrying a substantial amount of cocaine at the time.

  The caller threatened the life of the man’s daughter, saying that they couldn’t have anyone recognize them. This was accompanied by screams and cries in the background that replicated his daughter’s voice. This was followed up with threats of torture and other bodily harm to the daughter if the man didn’t comply. For the sake of decorum, we won’t reprint specifically what the threats entailed, but imagine the worst thing that could happen to a loved one of your own, and then you have an idea of the terror that was unfolding.

  The father complied with the scammer’s request and sent them $2500 to the scammer’s bank account, probably through an app like Zelle.

  Even if armed with the knowledge of how the virtual kidnapping scam works, in the heat of the moment, no one could be blamed for falling victim to the scam. However, there are still ways to try to protect yourself from the scam. The best way is to set up a code word between you and your loved ones. This way, in cases of calls like this, you can know if you’re actually talking to your loved one or not. Or, you could also ask them a question that only the supposed kidnap victim would know.

  While it’s easier said than done, try to remain calm in the situation, even while your ears may be deceiving you. Make attempts to contact your loved one through other means. If you can, attempt to have someone else reach them on a different phone.

  Please keep in mind, virtual kidnapping scams rely on manipulation and intimidation. By staying calm, and taking the necessary precautions, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to these schemes.

   
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  Geebo 8:34 am on September 18, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: cyberattack, cybersecurity ( 37 ), MGM Resorts, ransomware ( 11 ), Scams ( 1,363 ), social engineering ( 2 )   

  What does the MGM casino cyberattack mean to you? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  When we think of someone stealing from a casino, we may think of someone cheating at the tables. Or we may think of one of the famous heist movies like Ocean’s Eleven, whether it’s the Frank Sinatra or the George Clooney version. What we probably don’t think about is a chain of Las Vegas casinos being held hostage by hackers after a ten-minute phone call. Unfortunately, that’s what appears to have happened to the casinos owned by MGM Resorts this past week.

  While MGM themselves are being tight-lipped about the situation, it seems that a hacker collective found an upper management employee of MGM Resorts on LinkedIn. The hackers then posed as this employee and called MGM’s IT help desk. While speaking with the person at the help desk for only ten minutes, the hackers were able to obtain the information needed to access MGM Resorts’ internal computer systems.

  Once the hackers had the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, they infected MGM’s systems with ransomware. For the next few days, MGM Resorts had to shut down many of its systems, which greatly affected their business. Slot machines were inoperable, and the hotels could not issue electronic room keys to guests, just to name a few of the problems. The casinos even had to revert to giving out handwritten receipts to some of its winners.

  MGM has stated they will not give in to the hackers’ demands.

  So what does MGM’s trouble’s mean to the average consumer? Well, this kind of impersonation attack is known as social engineering and can be used in a multitude of scams. Social engineering is a form of manipulation and psychological persuasion that is often used for malicious purposes. It involves exploiting human psychology and social interactions to trick individuals or groups into divulging confidential information, granting access to restricted areas, or performing actions that may compromise security.

  If social engineering can be used against a multi-billion dollar corporation, it can be used and be successful against anyone. Protecting oneself from social engineering attacks involves a combination of awareness, skepticism, and proactive measures.

  Always verify requests for sensitive information, access, or actions, especially if they come via email, phone calls, or in-person interactions. Use trusted contact information to confirm the legitimacy of the request with the supposed authority or organization.

  Be cautious of unsolicited communications from unknown or unexpected sources. Verify the identity of the person or organization before sharing sensitive information or complying with their requests.

  By adopting these practices and fostering a security-conscious mindset, individuals can significantly reduce their vulnerability to social engineering attacks and help protect their personal and organizational assets.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 15, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: cybersecurity ( 37 ), identity theft ( 107 ), online shopping ( 33 ), Scams ( 1,363 ), TEMU ( 3 )   

  Is it safe to shop on TEMU? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In case you haven’t heard, TEMU is the latest online shopping sensation. Thanks to their glitzy advertising campaigns, TEMU has taken off in popularity. Social media is flush with posts of people posting their hauls from TEMU. So, is TEMU any good and is it reliable? If we were pushed to give a yes or no answer, we would side with no.

  TEMU is the latest in a string of direct retailers based in China. You may have heard of some of their competitors, such as AliExpress or Wish. Rather than selling items themselves, TEMU allows companies and distributors to sell Chinese-made goods through their portal to customers in the West.

  TEMU’s predecessors, the aforementioned AliExpress and Wish, have garnered a reputation of selling shoddily made or counterfeit goods, along with long shipping times if the item is shipped at all. TEMU seems to be following in their footsteps, but those aren’t the only drawbacks to using TEMU.

  According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TEMU is harvesting customer data like there’s no tomorrow. The BBB says that TEMU is collecting such information as the customer’s name, phone number, address, birthdate, social media photos, and even social security numbers. So how is that different from the major U.S. retailers?

  The BBB is concerned that since TEMU is based in China, scammers, identity thieves, and other bad actors may have easier access to that data. While data leaks do happen in the U.S., there are laws to try to protect those affected by the leaks and admonish the leakers. Many other countries do not have such laws, especially when the victims of such leaks are from another country from the other side of the world.

  In a world where personal information is more valuable than ever, it’s essential to tread carefully when navigating the digital marketplace. While TEMU offers enticing deals and a wide range of products, it’s crucial to remember that convenience shouldn’t come at the cost of your personal data security.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 14, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: elder fraud ( 5 ), elder scam ( 7 ), elderly ( 12 ), Scams ( 1,363 )   

  Protecting the elderly from scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  While young people are just as susceptible to scams, the elderly have long been a target of scammers. Recently, the Better Business Bureau released a list of signs to look out for that could indicate an elderly loved one is bing scammed.

  Unsolicited Mail or Emails: Scammers often send unsolicited mail or emails promising prizes, lottery winnings, or other offers that require upfront payments or personal information.

  Sudden Financial Changes: If your elderly relative experiences sudden financial changes, such as large withdrawals or transfers of money, unpaid bills, missing funds, or payments to unfamiliar companies, it could be a red flag.

  Changes in Behavior: Look for changes in behavior, such as increased anxiety, withdrawal from social activities, or secrecy about financial matters. If they’re being secretive about phone calls, that could be an indicator that a scammer has already made inroads to their finances.

  Loss of Assets: If your relative unexpectedly sells valuable possessions, real estate, or investments without a clear reason, it could be a sign of financial exploitation. Another indicator could be that your loved one is going without necessities such as food or utilities.

  If your loved one has already fallen victim to a scammer, there are steps you can take to help them.

  First, you should have an open and non-judgmental conversation with your relative about your concerns. Listen to their side of the story. Keep records of any suspicious communications, transactions, or individuals involved. Lastly, report the scam to authorities.

  However, the best thing you can do for them is to educate them on common scams and strategies to protect themselves from future scams.

  Remember, it’s essential to maintain your elderly loved one’s dignity and autonomy while helping them stay safe from scams. Encourage them to stay vigilant and seek support from trusted friends and family members.

  You can find more tips about scams and the elderly at this link.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 13, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: doctor ( 4 ), impersonation scam ( 144 ), medical license ( 2 ), money laundering ( 11 ), Scams ( 1,363 )   

  Doctor falls prey to money laundering scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  One of the main points we try to drive home when discussing scams is that anyone can fall victim to a scam. It doesn’t matter if you’re a teenager working a part-time job, or an established academic, there’s a scam designed just for your particular circumstance.

  And speaking of academics, the victim in today’s story is a doctor. Whether someone is a medical doctor or a doctor of letters, they’ve spent years, if not decades, of constant learning. When advances in their respective fields are made, that’s even more studying and researching that has to be done. They can’t become successes in their field without being studious and knowledgeable. Yet, they still get scammed like everyone else.

  One of the more common scams that targets doctors is a variation of the jury duty scam. In these instances, instead of being told they missed jury duty, they’re told they’ve missed testifying as an expert witness. The doctors are told to make a payment to the scammers posing as police to avoid being arrested.

  The doctor from Cleveland who recently fell victim to a scam was targeted in a licensing scam. He received a call that claimed to be from the Ohio State Medical Board. The phone number on the caller ID even matched that of the Medical Board. The 57-year-old doctor was told his license was being suspended because he was being investigated by the FBI for money laundering. He was instructed to wire $20,000 to have his license reinstated. After the doctor wired the money, he called the actual Medical Board to see if the payment was received. That’s when he learned he had been scammed.

  It’s essential to recognize that scams don’t discriminate. They can infiltrate the lives of individuals from all walks of life, irrespective of their economic or educational background. Falling victim to a scam doesn’t reflect a lack of intelligence or judgment; it underscores the cunning tactics employed by fraudsters to exploit our vulnerabilities. By staying informed, vigilant, and sharing our experiences, we can collectively build a stronger defense against scams and protect ourselves and our communities from the pervasive threat they pose.