Greg's Corner

Tagged: bait and switch Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on June 5, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bait and switch, customs, online shopping ( 37 ), Scams ( 1,510 ), tariffs ( 2 )   

  Stuck in Customs? It’s Likely a Scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  When an online order never shows up, it’s natural to follow up. But if the seller tells you your package is stuck in customs due to tariffs, it may be more than just a shipping delay. According to reports from BBB Scam Tracker, this explanation is increasingly being used by scammers to delay refunds or avoid delivering anything at all.

  The scam usually begins with a professional-looking advertisement on social media or search engines. A potential customer visits the site, sees a product they want, and proceeds through a smooth checkout process. Everything appears legitimate until the item never arrives. Initial follow-ups may be met with vague, repetitive messages urging patience. Eventually, the seller may claim the package is stuck in customs due to tariffs or international regulations. In some cases, the buyer is asked to pay additional money to release the shipment. Other times, a tracking number is provided that falsely shows the package was delivered to an unrelated address, often in another state.

  Some sellers blame trade policy or customs backlogs as a reason for the delay, but these explanations often serve to buy time or discourage further inquiries. Once customers demand a refund or threaten to report the issue, communication often stops altogether. Email responses may be riddled with grammatical errors or come from generic addresses with no identifiable support team.

  Several patterns tend to appear in these types of scams. The most telling is the use of tariffs or customs as an excuse for excessive delays. Another is being asked to pay more money after the order is placed. Tracking numbers that don’t align with your shipping information or that show delivery to the wrong location are also red flags. Customer service that avoids specific answers or disappears entirely should raise immediate concern.

  While sponsored social media ads can come from legitimate companies, scammers also use these platforms to present fake businesses that vanish once enough orders come in. Shoppers are advised to research unfamiliar sellers before purchasing, particularly when ads appear in sponsored posts. Reviews outside of the seller’s own platform can help reveal complaints or patterns of fraud. Inspecting the website for inconsistencies, such as poor grammar or suspicious URLs, may also uncover warning signs.

  Paying with a credit card can provide an extra layer of protection in case you need to dispute a charge. It is uncommon for U.S. consumers to owe tariffs after completing a purchase, so any request for post-purchase customs payments should be treated with skepticism. Saving order confirmations, tracking information, and screenshots of the original ad can support your claim if you decide to report the scam or seek a refund through your credit card issuer.

  As scammers become more sophisticated in creating fake websites and using technical language to explain away delays, staying informed is essential. If you believe you’ve been targeted by this type of scam, you can file a report with BBB Scam Tracker to help warn others and contribute to ongoing fraud investigations.

   

  Leave a ReplyCancel reply
• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on April 1, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bait and switch, missing police officer, Police ( 12 ), police scam ( 38 ), Scams ( 1,510 )   

  Fake Cops, Real Scams: Viral Hoaxes 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In recent months, a disturbing pattern of online deception has emerged, targeting public empathy and exploiting the image of law enforcement officers. These scams, spreading across multiple states and even international social media groups, rely on fabricated missing person posts designed to go viral. The intent behind these emotionally manipulative tactics is not to reunite families or assist in real emergencies, but to bait well-meaning individuals into sharing content that is later edited for profit.

  The scheme typically begins with a post claiming that a police officer has gone missing under mysterious or tragic circumstances. The posts are emotionally charged and often include fabricated details about vehicles being discovered abandoned or children found alone, suggesting urgent danger. These posts appear in local Facebook groups where trust and community concern are easily manipulated. They are deliberately crafted to appear as urgent pleas for help, tapping into the public’s instinct to assist in potential crises.

  What follows after widespread sharing is a bait-and-switch tactic. Once these posts have garnered significant engagement, the original content is quietly edited. Instead of a missing person alert, viewers are redirected to unrelated advertisements, rental scams or fraudulent surveys that promise cash prizes. In some instances, users are encouraged to provide personal or financial information, putting them at further risk.

  Law enforcement agencies across the country have been forced to issue statements clarifying that the individuals portrayed in these posts are not missing and that the narratives are entirely fictitious. In one case, a police department confirmed that the officer in question was on duty at a local school, debunking any claims of disappearance. Another incident involved a slain officer whose identity was repurposed to fuel one of these scams, turning a real tragedy into digital clickbait.

  What makes these schemes particularly insidious is their reliance on recognizable faces and compelling backstories. Scammers have used images of real officers, including those featured in legitimate news coverage, to add credibility to their hoaxes. In some cases, names and photos have been lifted from public articles and repurposed in different locations under false identities.

  This form of exploitation not only victimizes the people whose images are used without consent but also erodes public trust. It diminishes the effectiveness of real emergency alerts by desensitizing audiences who may become skeptical of genuine calls for help. Moreover, it weaponizes grief and community concern, turning them into tools for financial gain.

  Authorities have encouraged the public to remain vigilant, particularly when confronted with vague or unverifiable claims on social media. Posts that lack specific details such as locations, contact information for law enforcement, or timestamps should be approached with caution. While the instinct to help is natural and commendable, it is increasingly important to verify before sharing.

  The growing frequency of these scams points to a troubling trend in online behavior, where emotional manipulation has become a tool for exploitation. As these deceptive campaigns continue to evolve, so too must public awareness and digital literacy. Without intervention and widespread education, these scams will not only persist but continue to prey on the very emotions that make communities strong.

   
• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on March 12, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bait and switch, missing person ( 9 ), Police ( 12 ), Scams ( 1,510 ), social media ( 86 )   

  Missing Police Officer Scam Goes Viral 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Social media has become a powerful tool for spreading information, but it has also become a breeding ground for deception. In Jacksonville, North Carolina, police recently confirmed that a viral Facebook post about a missing officer was nothing more than a scam. The post falsely claimed that a female officer disappeared and was in need of medical assistance. However, authorities quickly debunked the claim, stating that no such officer exists in their department. The name in question closely resembles that of a real officer from another state, who is completely fine.

  What makes this scam particularly troubling is its widespread reach. Similar posts have surfaced across the country, appearing as far as California and Georgia. They all follow the same pattern: an alarming story designed to stir emotions and prompt immediate action. People see the post, feel compelled to share it, and unknowingly help scammers spread their deception even further.

  This particular hoax is part of a larger trend of scams that manipulate public concern by fabricating urgent, distressing stories. In the past, similar tactics have been used with fake reports of missing children, lost pets, and even claims of dangerous criminals lurking in neighborhoods. The goal is always the same, to generate widespread attention and engagement. Once a post goes viral, scammers will often edit it to include fraudulent links, requests for money, or even malware designed to steal personal information.

  Authorities and consumer protection agencies warn social media users to be cautious before sharing such posts. Hallmarks of these scams include comments being disabled, vague details that don’t align with official reports, and the absence of verification from reputable news sources or law enforcement. A quick reverse image search or a visit to the official pages of police departments and news outlets can often expose the falsehood before it gains traction.

  As scammers continue to evolve their tactics, public vigilance remains the best defense. While it’s natural to want to help in an emergency, taking a moment to verify information before sharing can prevent further spread of misinformation and protect individuals from falling victim to fraud. The digital age has made it easier than ever to stay informed, but it has also made it essential to question what we see before passing it along.

   
• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on August 7, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bait and switch, Facebook ( 181 ), found child, missing child ( 4 ), missing person ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,510 ), social media ( 86 )   

  Fake posts about the missing and found children 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In the digital age, social media platforms like Facebook have become prime targets for scammers looking to exploit users’ emotions and trust. Recently, two types of fraudulent posts have been making the rounds: one featuring a missing elderly woman holding a Yoda toy and the other showing ‘found child’ images. Both scams aim to manipulate users into sharing the posts, ultimately serving malicious purposes.

  The missing elderly woman scam involves posts about a woman with dementia, often seen holding a Yoda toy, circulating across Facebook, primarily in local buy-and-sell groups. These posts claim that the woman appeared at the poster’s house, supposedly taking the toy from their child. Each post urges users to flood their feeds to help find her family. However, these posts are nothing more than a bait-and-switch scam. The locations mentioned in these posts, such as Surprise, Arizona, and Cagliari, Italy, are inconsistent, which is a hallmark of such scams. A reverse image search reveals that the photo has been circulating since at least 2020, with different captions, none indicating the woman is missing. Scammers initially lure users with an emotional appeal, then change the post to contain links to malicious sites or deceptive rental ads.

  Similarly, the found child scam involves false posts appearing on Facebook, as warned by the Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) in Arkansas. These posts use fake images of distressed or injured children, asking the public for help in sharing the post. Despite attempts to report them, many of these posts remain active due to Facebook’s reporting system limitations. Scammers aim to gather likes and shares, boosting their profiles through Facebook’s algorithms. By turning off comments, they prevent users from exposing the truth about the posts. Such posts cause unnecessary alarm and distress, prompting police to urge the public not to share them.

  To protect yourself, verify the credibility of the source before sharing any post about missing persons or found children. Check the poster’s profile for any red flags, such as recently created accounts or inconsistent location details. Conduct a reverse image search to see if the image has appeared elsewhere on the internet with different contexts or stories. Be cautious of posts containing links, especially those generated with URL shorteners, as they may lead to malicious sites. Report suspicious posts; even though reporting may not always be effective, the more reports a post receives, the higher the chance it will be reviewed and removed.