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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 27, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: embezzlement ( 2 ), romance scam ( 70 ), Scams   

  Romance scam victim accused of embezzling $3.75M 

  

  By Greg Collier

  While we often believe ourselves to be savvy navigators in the online world, the truth is that anyone can become entangled in the intricate web of a romance scam. The illusion of connection, coupled with the emotional vulnerability inherent in seeking love, renders even the most cautious individuals susceptible to deception. In this age of interconnectedness, the line between genuine affection and calculated deceit has blurred, leading unsuspecting hearts down a perilous path. Individuals from all walks of life can unwittingly fall victim to the allure of a virtual romance, sometimes at the cost of their own well-being.

  For example, a woman from Minnesota was recently charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing millions from her employer, so she could send the money to a scammer she thought was her romantic partner. The scammer told her he was in Dubai and was owed $7 million for work he did there. Romance scammers often pose as businessmen who work overseas so they can have a convenient reason for not meeting their supposed romantic partners in person. The scammer claimed he needed to borrow money in order to access the money he said he was owed.

  From here, the woman is suspected of embezzling money from the company she worked for. Her duties within the company were working remotely handling the company’s payroll, accounts payable, and general bookkeeping, meaning she had access to the company’s money.

  Eventually, the company noticed irregularities in their books and hired an outside financial investigator. The woman was fired for allegedly embezzling $3.75 million from the company. When she was interviewed by state investigators, she allegedly told them she had permission to borrow the money from the company.

  It has become increasingly evident that vulnerability knows no boundaries. Regardless of educational background or socioeconomic status, the human desire for connection and companionship remains a universal force. Romance scams, with their sophisticated tactics and emotional manipulation, can ensnare individuals across the spectrum of society. The misconception that only the gullible or uninformed are susceptible is debunked as we recognize that these scams prey on fundamental human emotions, transcending educational achievements or financial standing.

  The red flags of a romance scam should never be ignored. If the person you’re communicating with constantly gives excuses for not meeting face to face, they’re hiding something, which typically is the fact they’re not who they say they are. Requests for money before ever meeting face to face are also a dead giveaway of a romance scam. Keep in mind that scammers will foster relationships with their victims for months while showering them with affection before asking for money. If you feel like you may be talking to a scammer, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone close to you to get their opinion.

   

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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 26, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bank fraud ( 23 ), impostor scam ( 15 ), Scams, USAA, veterans ( 8 )   

  A fusion of bank scams target veteran’s widow 

  

  By Greg Collier

  We hope all our readers had a safe, joyous, and scam-free Christmas. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your gift card balances before using them.

  Over the past year, we’ve seen several new ways in which scammers have lured their victims into a financial trap. None has been more disturbing than scams that target the families who have recently lost a loved one. Scammers scan the obituaries looking for victims who may not be thinking clearly since they’re grieving. At best, you have a scammer posing as the funeral home trying to squeeze money out of you, at worst you have a real estate scammer trying to steal a family’s home with a phony deed scam. Now, we’re seeing scammers using the obituaries to gain access to the bank accounts of those in mourning.

  Back in November, a US Army Veteran who had been awarded the Purple Heart passed away. According to his widow, a week after the soldier’s memorial, she was targeted in a bank scam. The scammers posed as USAA, a bank whose customer base is largely members of the military, veterans, and their families. Like most bank scams these days, the soldier’s widow received a text message that appeared to come from USAA warning her of fraudulent activity on her account.

  The text message included a customer service number to call, but the number didn’t go to USAA. Instead, it went to a scammer call center impersonating USAA. According to the victim, the scammers even used USAA’s customized hold music while she was on the phone with the scammers.

  The victim was talked into giving the scammers enough personal information where the scammers gained access to her bank account. At this point, scammers typically drain the account of its funds. However, this time, the scammers took the scam even further. A phony check was deposited into the account for $4500. Before the check was discovered to be fraudulent, the scammers withdrew not only the $4500 from the phony check, but the remaining funds in the account as well.

  The victim reported the scam to the police and USAA, but the bank initially denied her claim for a refund, stating they determined the transactions were not fraudulent. That was until she went to a local TV news station with her story. After the news station got involved, USAA returned the lost money to her.

  If you receive a text message from your bank about any questionable activity on your account, stop for a moment. Do not call any number included in the text message or click any links the message may contain. Instead, call your bank directly at the customer service number listed on the back of your bank card.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 22, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bail scam ( 15 ), grandparent scam ( 69 ), impersonation scam ( 146 ), Scams   

  Scammers are master emotional manipulators 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Scammers like to find victims who are in an emotional state. This allows scammers to take advantage of people who aren’t in the right mindset to assess a potentially fraudulent situation. Of course, scammers are not going to wait around to find vulnerable victims, so the scammers themselves will often put their victims in just such an emotional state.

  For example, scammers will frequently try to make it sound like a victim’s loved one is in some kind of peril. To achieve this, scammers will pose as the victim’s loved one and claim they’ve been arrested. Most of us wouldn’t hesitate to try to help get a close friend or family member out of jail. That’s exactly what happened when scammers recently contacted a Virginia man.

  The scammers posed as the man’s 40-year-old nephew when they called him. The phony nephew claimed her had been in a car accident and broke his nose. Scammers will say that in order to explain away why they don’t sound like the actual person they’re imitating.

  The ‘nephew’ went on to say they got into the accident with a pregnant woman who was injured in the wreck. Again, this is done to get the victim into a worse emotional state. The victim was also told not to tell the nephew’s parents out of embarrassment. But, with all that said, the nephew claimed to need $6500 cash for bail. The victim was instructed to go to a specific ATM inside a grocery store to deposit the money. A security guard noticed the victim, but the victim was told by the scammers not to divulge to anyone what he was doing. Typically, scammers claim that a gag order has been placed on the victim. In actuality, that’s not how gag orders work.

  Once scammers convince a victim to pay them once, they’ll almost always try to get the victim to pay again. In this case, the victim was told the pregnant woman’s baby died and an additional $5000 was needed, which the victim paid in the same fashion.

  Then the scammers really twisted the emotional knife in their victim. This time, they asked for $16,000, which the victim didn’t have. It was at this point, the phony nephew claimed they were going to take their own life if the victim didn’t pay the $16,000.

  The victim felt horrible and called his nephew a few days later. That’s when he found out the whole thing had been a hoax. Luckily, the victim was able to get some of his money back from the bank where he deposited the money.

  There are no depths scammers won’t sink to try to get your money. This is what they do for a dishonest living, and they’re very goof at what they do. If you receive a distressing request for money, no matter who it comes from, always verify their story. If you’re being told not to tell anyone, that’s the scammers trying to discourage you from finding out the truth.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 21, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: funeral ( 14 ), funeral expenses ( 9 ), gravestones, headstones, Scams   

  Serial scammer rips off grieving families 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Over the past couple of years, families who have lost loved ones have had it even worse thanks to scammers. If it’s not the phone calls from fake funeral home employees, it’s scammers selling funeral plots they don’t own, or the family having their home stolen from them. If you thought those could be the only scams perpetrated against grieving families, you’d be mistaken.

  A man from Pennsylvania is wanted by the Delaware State Police for allegedly selling gravestones to grieving families and not delivering them. According to the DSP, the man reached out to families who recently lost loved ones and would meet them at the cemetery. There, he would design a gravestone for the deceased and would collect money from the family.

  Later, the man would send a letter to the family stating his business went bankrupt and could no longer make the gravestone. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this scammer was caught conning grieving families. He’s forbidden from doing business in Pennsylvania after conducting a similar scam and may have had victims in New Jersey as well.

  Again, grief is one of the most difficult emotions to process. What may seem like a kind stranger offering their help could be a scammer in disguise. When choosing any kind of service regarding the loss of a loved one, such as funeral homes etc., research the service first before committing any money. Do a web search on the name of the service with qualifiers such as ‘reviews’ and complaints.

  If the process of arranging a funeral and the surrounding responsibilities get to be too much while you’re grieving, don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend or family member for help and support.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 20, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: child safety ( 8 ), child safety kit ( 2 ), identity theft ( 107 ), Scams   

  Child safety kits can actually put your child at risk 

  

  By Greg Collier

  If you’re not acquainted with child safety kits, they serve as a means of compiling essential identifying information about your child in the unfortunate event that they go missing. These kits enable parents to promptly provide investigators with the necessary details to aid in locating their child. The information typically includes a DNA sample, such as strands of hair, recent photographs, and fingerprints, among other pertinent details. Numerous child safety organizations, such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), collaborate with local law enforcement to offer these kits to parents free of charge. Alternatively, you have the option to create your own kits at home, though it is advisable to have your children professionally fingerprinted by your local police.

  Regrettably, scammers may exploit a parent’s anxieties by attempting to peddle fake kits. These deceptive kits are essentially schemes designed to pilfer your child’s personal information for the purpose of identity theft.

  Families in Texas were recently targeted in just such a scam. During a Christmas parade, a man was approaching families and asking for their address and phone number to receive a free child safety kit. The man allegedly clammed to be associated with the local police department. When the man called the families for more information, some of the families caught on that this was a scam after being asked deeply personal information about their children.

  Children’s personal information is highly sought by identity thieves. With a child’s Social Security number, identity thieves can open many lines of credit or take out loans in the child’s name. These transgressions may not even be noticed until the child turns 18.

  To safeguard your child’s identity, exercise caution when sharing their information. Consider refraining from disclosing every detail of their lives on social media platforms. Additionally, it is advisable to routinely monitor their credit history. If you discover that your child’s identity has been stolen, it’s imperative to take swift action by freezing your child’s credit history. Freezing the credit will restrict unauthorized access to their financial information and help prevent further fraudulent activities. Contact the credit bureaus and follow their procedures to initiate a credit freeze for your child, adding an extra layer of protection against potential identity theft. Additionally, consider reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities and working closely with them to rectify the situation.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 19, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: deed transfer ( 13 ), hospice ( 2 ), real estate ( 127 ), Scams   

  Scammers try to steal home from hospice patient 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Having a terminally ill relative is one of the worst things someone can experience, especially if that relative is one of your parents. You’re either praying for a miracle or for their suffering to end quickly. You end up having to do things you never realized you would have to do, like preparing funeral arrangements for someone who is still alive. The last thing you’ll want to deal with is a pair of scammers trying to steal your parents’ home. Sadly, that’s what one man recently had to deal with.

  The victim’s mother has stage 4 cancer and dementia. She’s been under hospice care at her own home. It’s unclear how the alleged scammer came to obtain this knowledge, but the scammer is accused of filing a quit claim deed that shows the mother sold the house to the scammer for $8000. At the time of the supposed sale, the mother was out of state, receiving treatment. The mother couldn’t have even legally sold her home, as her son had power of attorney.

  Complicating matters was the fact that the quit claim deed was notarized; however, the notary may have been in on the scam. Police approached the notary to ask about the claim, and they said they would cooperate with them before avoiding all contact with police. Both the alleged scammer and the notary have been arrested.

  It’s unknown if this was the case in this story, but a lot of these scammers get their information about their victims from social media. Of course, you want to let your family know your relative’s condition, and social media is probably the quickest way to do that. However, before making that post, consider making a private list of need to know people in your friends list and make the post only visible to them.

  Fortunately, there are measures you can take to safeguard yourself. It is advisable to regularly visit the website of your county appraiser to keep track of the property’s ownership. In case your county appraiser lacks an online platform, you can visit their office in person. Additionally, certain counties offer programs that provide alerts in the event of any changes to your deed.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 18, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: banks ( 6 ), lawsuit ( 47 ), pop-ups ( 26 ), Scams, tech support scam ( 50 )   

  Scam victim sues bank over pop-up scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Before we get started with today’s story, we wanted to share an article with you from the New York Times. The article shows that many overseas scammers are victims themselves. According to the Times, English speakers in East Asia are being offered translation jobs. In reality, the victims are being kidnapped and trafficked to forced labor camps, where they’re coerced into committing pig butchering scams to gain their freedom. It seems scams have even more victims than you may have originally thought.

  But speaking of overseas scams, today’s story involves an elderly woman who wired $120,000 to scammers in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, she fell victim to the pop-up scam, also known as a tech support scam.

  The victim was using her computer when she received a pop-up telling her that her computer had been hacked. The pop-up contained a phone number for the victim to call immediately. While the news report does not specify, in many of these cases, the scammers will mention to their victims that since their computer has been hacked, their bank accounts are at risk from hackers. Then the victim is instructed to move their money to protect it. In this instance, the victim wired her money overseas.

  The victim is now suing her bank, claiming the bank should have at least questioned the transactions before allowing them to go through. According to the victim’s attorney, the victim never made a wire transfer before, let alone one for such a large amount that was going overseas. Typically, when bank scams like this happen, the banks try to wash their hands of the matter by saying since the victim authorized the transaction so it’s not the bank’s responsibility.

  What do you think? Do you believe the banks share some responsibility for failing to prevent these transactions, or is the elderly woman simply an unfortunate victim?

  If you do receive one of these pop-ups, do not click on anything within the pop-up. Instead, close the browser or restart your computer. Avoid providing any personal information or following any instructions in the pop-up. Consider running a reputable antivirus or anti-malware scan to ensure your system’s security.

   
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  Geebo 9:05 am on December 15, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Apple ( 30 ), bills ( 2 ), impersonation scam ( 146 ), phishing ( 76 ), remote access ( 6 ), Scams   

  New scam sends you a bill from Apple 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Whenever you see a headline that says there’s a new scam, the odds are it’s an old scam in new clothing. It’s just more efficient to say there’s a new scam in the headline in order to better educate the reader. Today’s scam is no different.

  Security experts are saying scammers are sending bills to their victims that appear to look like a bill from Apple Computers. The bill says the recipient is being charged close to $300 for security ‘upgradation’. Upgradation is an English word, however, it is not used in American English. That should be someone’s first clue the bill is fraudulent.

  The bill contains a phone number to call in case the recipient has any questions. Once a victim calls the number, they’re told they’ll be issued a refund if they allow the phony customer service agent to have remote access to the victim’s device. Red flags do not get any redder than this. Once a user allows remote access to their device, bad actors can install malware on to the device, or gain access to your online accounts.

  A similar scam to this one is when victims receive an email that claims someone just made a large purchase on their Amazon account, prompting the victim to call a customer service included in the email.

  In this instance, the scammers are posing as Apple because Apple users have a reputation of being more affluent since Apple devices are more expensive than competitors’ devices. The scammers don’t actually know who owns an Apple device. They send out these email invoices en masse, hoping they snag an Apple using victim. It’s almost certain some Windows and Android users received phony Apple emails too.

  With these email scams, never call the phone number included. Instead, manually check your account from that vendor or service to make sure you haven’t been charged. If you still feel the need to call them, use the customer service number from their website.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 14, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Christmas shopping ( 22 ), discreet shipping, online shopping ( 33 ), Scams   

  What is the discreet shipping scam? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  It seems the only news stories about scams this time of year are related to Christmas shopping. To be fair, the holidays are when scams are most active. With so much money being spent by consumers, scammers are looking to for any way to get their hands on some. Previously, we’ve posted about the text message delivery scam, gift card scams including the new gift card draining scams, porch pirates, and a myriad of online shopping scams. Now a new scam has emerged designed to take your money while Christmas shopping.

  It’s called the discreet shipping fee scam, and it is an addition to online shopping scams. In this new scam, a victim may be lured into using a website that isn’t on the up and up. Once the victim places their order, and even pays for shipping, they’re contacted by the vendor. The vendor will ask if they want to add ‘discreet shipping’ to their order. The problem is, discreet shipping can take many forms, but they all want to steal from you.

  For example, if a shopper is ordering something but doesn’t want their entire neighborhood knowing what they ordered. Some examples that were given in that instance would be legal but questionable items like cigars, CBD products, and vaping accessories. Another version of the scam will charge the customer the discreet shipping fee if they indicate their purchase is a gift. Also, if a shopper were to order an item from overseas, they might be charged for discreet package stamps, so their purchase will avoid customs.

  Unfortunately, by the time the vendor tries to charge a shopper discreet shipping fees, they already have the shopper’s money from the purchase, and the shopper may not receive the item they paid for at all. The best prevention in these cases is only using reputable websites for shopping. When shopping online, try to use a credit card as much as possible. Credit cards provide much more protection than most forms of payment. Don’t use payment apps such as Zelle or Venmo, as they’re designed to be used for friends and family. Most retailers will not ask for payment by these apps. Not only should you check the retailer’s reputation by doing a Google search about them, you should also check to see how long they’ve been around to avoid fly-by-night retailers.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 13, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Christmas shopping ( 22 ), gift card draining ( 3 ), gift cards ( 101 ), Scams   

  How common is gift card draining? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Recently, we made a post about how scammers can drain the value of a gift card as soon as you buy one. The scam has been dubbed “gift card draining” by law enforcement. While it may seem like a new scam due to the news coverage it’s been garnering lately, it’s been around since stores started selling gift cards on racks and kiosks. We don’t like to repeat subjects too often on this blog, but gift card draining has been so prevalent in the news, we thought we’d take another look at it.

  In the gift card draining scam, scammers may tamper with physical gift cards available for purchase in stores. They may discreetly scratch off or expose the card’s activation code without alerting the store staff. Once the scammer obtains the activation code, they redeem the value on the card once it’s activated by an unsuspecting shopper. This makes it useless for the person who eventually purchases it.

  If you’re wondering how widespread this scam is, you may want to take precautions while doing your holiday shopping this year. In Northern California, police were patrolling a Target store when they noticed a man allegedly taking gift cards from their racks and doing something to the cards before putting them back. When police officers approached the man outside the store, they discovered the man had thousands of gift cards inside his car. The cards were taken from 54 Target stores in 12 different California counties. The cards were stolen at stores from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area.

  To protect yourself from potential gift card scams, consider implementing the following precautions. When purchasing gift cards, choose those from the middle of the pack, as they are less likely to have been tampered with. Conduct a thorough inspection of the card for any signs of alteration, especially if the security strip appears wrinkled or crooked, as these may indicate tampering. Keep the receipt when acquiring a gift card, as it can be valuable for assistance if the card is later found to be empty.

  In the unfortunate event that you detect a tampered card, promptly contact the issuing company using the customer service number provided on the back of the card. Although there’s no guarantee of recovering your funds, taking this step can significantly expedite the resolution process.