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  Geebo 8:00 am on March 15, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: college ( 14 ), emergency scam, grandparent scam ( 65 ), police impersonation scam ( 49 ), Scams ( 1,224 )   

  College athletes targeted in sophisticated scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Connecticut’s state authorities are issuing a stern warning about a disturbing new trend targeting college athletes and their families. According to authorities, scammers are exploiting publicly available information to dupe unsuspecting individuals into making immediate payments under false pretenses, creating a sense of urgency and panic in the process.

  Reports from Connecticut State University Police Departments have revealed a troubling pattern. The callers, posing as university police officers, contact parents of university students, specifically targeting student-athletes. They claim that the student-athlete has been slapped with citations for various infractions like open container violations, curfew breaches, or trespassing. To compound the urgency, the scammer demands immediate payment through platforms like CashApp and Venmo.

  If this scam rings a bell, it’s because it bears striking resemblances to both the grandparent scam and the virtual kidnapping scam, sprinkled with elements of police impersonation. It’s now known more commonly as the family emergency scam.

  It’s a chilling reminder that scammers stop at nothing to manipulate emotions and coerce victims into compliance. The tactic of impersonating law enforcement adds an extra layer of credibility and intimidation, leaving victims feeling cornered and compelled to act swiftly.

  The State of Connecticut has issued a statement that said, a legitimate police department or campus safety program will never solicit payment for citations over the phone.

  Although this version of the scam is aimed at student-athletes, previous iterations have targeted the families of college students who aren’t involved in athletics. Essentially, any parent with a child attending college could potentially fall victim to this scam.

  Individuals who receive suspicious calls or communications purporting to be from law enforcement are urged to hang up immediately and report the incident to local police. Furthermore, those who have fallen victim to this scam are advised to take swift action by contacting their financial institutions to mitigate potential damages.

   

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  Geebo 9:00 am on February 26, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: emergency scam, gen z, scam victims ( 3 ), Scams ( 1,224 ), victim blaming   

  Scam Round Up: Why Anyone Can Fall Victim to a Scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Usually, when we share a Scam Round Up, we cover three or more scams that don’t warrant a full blog post. However, today, we’re shifting gears to highlight three news articles. Our aim is to convince our readers that no one is immune to scams.

  Up first, TIME Magazine provides us with an article that highlights the cognitive bias that fosters this false sense of security when it comes to scams. Emotional manipulation stands out as a common tactic, exploiting fear and urgency to override rational thinking. Scammers craft scenarios designed to evoke strong emotions, such as familial emergencies or romantic entanglements, compelling victims to act impulsively. Whether acknowledged or not, we all harbor fears, many of which are common among us. Scammers swiftly exploit these fears to manipulate us into acting against our best interests.

  Again, we go back to TIME Magazine with an article that indicates Generation Z is over three times more susceptible to online scams compared to baby boomers. Experts attribute this to tailored scams exploiting younger generations’ heavy social media use and trust in online information. Financial planners highlight the allure of get-rich-quick schemes amidst economic challenges faced by younger adults, compounded by their tendency to trust online content. As scams evolve in complexity, leveraging advanced technology like AI, experts caution that younger adults’ reliance on online platforms and digital banking could leave them more vulnerable to security breaches and account compromises.

  Lastly, we have an op-ed column from the Washington Post. If you’ll recall, a New York Magazine columnist came forward over a week ago with her story about falling victim to a law enforcement impersonation scam. She gave $50,000 in cash to someone she thought was a CIA agent. Since then, some members of the general public and the media have tried to shame her for falling for what they consider an obvious scam. In the Post column, that columnist takes the public and media to task for victim blaming a scam victim. The Post columnist reminds us that someone within your family, workplace, or religious community has either been or will be a victim of a scam.

  Blaming scam victims or adopting a mindset of invulnerability only serves to perpetuate the cycle of shame and misinformation surrounding financial fraud. Instead of pointing fingers, it’s crucial to recognize the sophistication of modern scams and the psychological tactics employed by con artists. By fostering empathy and understanding, we can create a safer environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their experiences and learning from them. Remember, anyone can fall prey to a well-crafted scam, and it’s only through collective awareness and support that we can effectively combat this pervasive issue.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on November 7, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: college ( 14 ), emergency scam, grandparent scam ( 65 ), Scams ( 1,224 )   

  College parents targeted by this scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Parents of college students are being targeted in a new scam, but it’s actually an old scam with new targets. It’s more infamously known as the grandparent scam. As you may know, that scam targets the elderly, with scammers trying to convince their victims that one of their grandchildren is in trouble. Often the scammers will claim to be the grandchild. It’s all done to try to squeeze money out of the victims disguised as bail money or some other legal fee. Meanwhile, the grandchild is safe and unaware they’re being used in a scam.

  As you can surmise by the headline, some scammers have decided to target a new demographic, but it’s still the same old scam. Now referred to as the emergency scam, scammers are calling college parents and telling them their child has been arrested. The scammers then ask for bail money that needs to be paid through apps like Venmo or Zelle. With a student possibly being states away from their parents, this could put the parents into a panicked state where they’re not thinking clearly. This is what the scammers are hoping for, so parents don’t have time to logically think about the situation.

  So, how do scammers know which parents to target? Social media, of course. The scammers look for college students on social media, and from there it’s usually not hard to find the student’s parents.

  It also doesn’t help that scammers are now using AI-generated voice cloning technology to imitate the voices of students. If a student is active on social media and have posted videos of themselves, it’s not difficult for the scammers to get a sample of their voice to use in their schemes.

  However, if you’re aware of the scam, it’s easy to beat. Even if it sounds like your own child is telling you they’re in jail, be suspicious. Instead, attempt to contact them directly, either using another phone or text message. You can also call the police department where they’re supposedly being held. And keep in mind that bail is never paid through payment apps, gift cards, cryptocurrencies, or money transfers. Setting up a code word with your child that’s only to be used in the case of an emergency will also go a long way in protecting your family from this scam.