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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 30, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Election ( 21 ), Massachussetts ( 4 ), pennsylvania ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), text messaging ( 37 ), text scam, voting ( 5 )   

  Beware of Text Message Voter Scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  As election season heats up, voters in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are being targeted by scam text messages designed to sow confusion and steal personal information. Officials in both states are warning citizens to stay vigilant and protect themselves from these deceptive tactics.

  In Pennsylvania, voters in key areas near Philadelphia such as Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties have reported receiving fraudulent text messages ahead of the November general election. These texts falsely claim that there are issues with the recipient’s voter registration status or that their previous votes were not counted. Some messages even direct voters to call fake numbers, allegedly belonging to local election offices.

  These messages are part of a broader attempt by bad actors to manipulate voters during a critical election period. Pennsylvania’s Department of State has emphasized that voters should not trust unsolicited messages that provide alarming or urgent information about their voting status. Instead, voters should verify any concerns by visiting the official state voter services website at vote.pa.gov or by contacting their local election office directly.

  Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, the Secretary of State’s office has issued a similar warning to voters about a potential text message scam as the state primaries approach. Some voters have reported receiving texts claiming they are not registered to vote, with a link provided supposedly to resolve the issue. The state cautions voters not to click on these links, as they may be attempts to collect sensitive information for malicious purposes.

  Massachusetts election officials will never contact voters via text message about their registration status. Voters who are unsure about their registration can check their status on the official website VoteInMA.com or by contacting their local election office directly.

  As election day draws near, it’s essential for voters in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and across the country to be cautious about unsolicited communications regarding their voter status. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and their messages may appear credible at first glance. However, by relying on official sources and reporting suspicious activity, voters can help protect themselves and ensure their voices are heard without interference.

  If you receive a suspicious text message related to voting, don’t engage with the content. Instead, report the message to your state’s consumer protection agency and verify your voter information through official channels. By staying informed, you can play a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity of our elections.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 6, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: cryptocurrency ( 61 ), hi how are you, Scams ( 1,595 ), text messaging ( 37 ), text scam   

  Innocent text leads to scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Scams have become increasingly sophisticated and widespread, often disguising themselves in the most innocent-looking forms. Recently, a North Carolina sheriff’s office issued a crucial warning to the public about one such tactic that scammers are using to deceive unsuspecting victims.

  Imagine receiving a message from an unknown number that simply says, “Hi! How are you?” Your first instinct might be to respond, perhaps thinking it’s someone you know or someone who has mistakenly texted you. However, it’s strongly advised against responding to these types of messages. Scammers are using this tactic as a conversation starter, so don’t text back.

  If you were to respond, the conversation may unfold in a seemingly innocent manner. The scammer, pretending to be friendly, will likely apologize for the mistake and try to keep the conversation going. This gradual process of befriending you is a calculated move. Once they have gained your trust, the scammer will typically steer the conversation toward offering advice on cryptocurrency investments or other money-making advice. The scammer will prompt you to pay for their “valuable” information, but in reality, it’s all a ploy to steal your money.

  Even a simple reply to such messages can put you at risk. By responding, you confirm that your phone number is active, making you a target for further scam attempts. This can lead to an influx of more scam calls and texts. To avoid these situations, it’s recommended to not reply to unknown numbers at all. Instead, delete and report the messages using your phone’s report junk option or forward them to 7726 (SPAM).

  To safeguard against these scams, there are some key precautions to take. If you receive a message from an unknown number, it’s best to ignore it. Delete and report it instead. Be wary of anyone promising quick and easy money with zero risk. Every legitimate investment comes with risks, and only scammers guarantee big returns with no effort.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on April 26, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: impersonation scam ( 196 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), smishing ( 17 ), text scam, tolls ( 8 )   

  Beware of smishing: The rise of text message toll scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In an era where digital communication is ubiquitous, scams have adapted to exploit every possible avenue, including text messaging. Recent reports from various states across the US indicate a surge in smishing scams, particularly targeting drivers with fake toll payment demands. These scams, a fusion of SMS (short message service) and phishing, aim to deceive recipients into sharing sensitive personal information or making fraudulent payments. Let’s delve deeper into this growing trend and explore ways to safeguard against such deceitful schemes.

  Smishing, short for SMS phishing, leverages text messages to trick individuals into divulging personal information or making payments to fraudulent entities. The recent wave of smishing scams targeting toll road users follows a similar pattern across different states.

  Victims receive text messages purporting to be from toll collection services, such as state tollway authorities or tolling agencies like E-ZPass or SunPass. The messages claim the recipient owes a specific amount for unpaid tolls, often accompanied by threats of additional late fees if not paid promptly. Scammers include links in the messages, supposedly directing recipients to settle their balances. However, these links lead to counterfeit websites designed to harvest personal and financial information. Despite variations in content and targeted states, the core strategy remains consistent, preying on the urgency and fear of incurring penalties to coerce victims into taking immediate action.

  To combat smishing attempts and protect against falling victim to these scams, it’s essential to remain vigilant and adopt proactive strategies.

  Rather than clicking on embedded links, independently verify the authenticity of any outstanding toll charges by accessing official toll service websites or contacting customer service directly. Avoid engaging with suspicious texts or providing personal information.

  Be wary of unsolicited text messages, especially those urging urgent actions or containing grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Trust your instincts and err on the side of caution when encountering unexpected requests for payment or personal details.

  Report smishing attempts to relevant authorities, such as the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker. By reporting such incidents, you safeguard yourself and contribute to efforts to combat cybercrime and protect others from falling prey to similar scams.

  The proliferation of smishing scams targeting toll road users underscores the importance of exercising caution and skepticism in today’s digital landscape. By verifying the legitimacy of messages, and promptly reporting suspicious activity, individuals can fortify their defenses against fraudulent schemes.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 11, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: phishing ( 89 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), text scam, venmo ( 29 )   

  New scam targets Venmo users 

  

  By Greg Collier

  If you use the mobile payment app Venmo, there are already a ton of scams you have to look out for. However, most of them are about whom the user is sending money to. Remember, Venmo is only supposed to be used between friends and family. Most legitimate businesses and organizations do not request payment through Venmo.

  But now there’s a new Venmo scam that’s determined to empty your account. The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions has issued a warning about the latest scam.

  The scam starts when the victim receives a text message that appears to have come from Venmo. The text asks the victim if their Venmo account was used in another part of the country. The message also contains a link to click on if you didn’t make that transaction.

  If the victim clicks on the link, they’re taken to a website that looks like it’s Venmo, but it’s actually a fake website designed to look like it. The fake website asks for the user’s log in credentials, and if they’re entered, the scammers can easily hijack the Venmo account and drain all the funds from it.

  So, how do the scammers know their victim has a Venmo account? In most instances, they don’t know. Scammers will send out these texts randomly while hoping someone will take the bait.

  There are a couple of ways you can protect yourself from this scam. The first is to never click on any links that appear in text messages from people you don’t know personally. Instead, log in to your Venmo account and review it for any potentially fraudulent charges. The other way is to enable two-factor authentication on your account. If your device has a fingerprint reader, it’s recommended to use that as your 2FA method as the fingerprint will be tied to your device, and not something that can be easily duplicated.

  And if Venmo is being used in a scam like this, it’s only a matter of time before it comes to Zelle, PayPal, and Cash App.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on July 14, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Amazon ( 112 ), online shopping ( 40 ), Prime Day ( 8 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), shipping ( 5 ), text scam   

  Shipping scams increase in wake of online sales season 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Amazon Prime Day was this past week. It’s become such a staple of the summer shopping season that a number of other online retailers have initiated their own sales which coincide with Prime Day. With so many items being purchased, the majority of shipping companies and the USPS will be extra busy delivering all these packages. This means consumers should expect various shipping scams whether they bought anything or not this week.

  The most common of these scams is the delayed delivery scam. This is where a consumer will receive a text message that claims to typically come from UPS, FedEx, or the USPS. The messages will say that your item could not be delivered for whatever reason. A link will be contained in the message where the recipient will be asked to update their shipping information. More often than not, the phony shipping company will also say there is a service fee involved, and the consumer will be asked for their payment information. While the service fee may be small, it’s really the payment information the scammers are after.

  Scammers don’t actually know whether you made a Prime purchase this week or not. They send out these text messages en masse, hoping to catch a few victims. Any unsolicited text message with a link in it should be treated as suspect. However, if you are expecting an important delivery and want to make sure there are no delivery issues, use the shipping company’s app or website to address any concerns. Clicking on links in suspicious messages could lead to having your phone infected with malware, spyware, or ransomware.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on March 17, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: EBT Cards ( 4 ), food stamps ( 5 ), pennsylvania ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), text scam, Virginia ( 9 ), wisconsin ( 3 )   

  Text message scam targets food stamp recipients in multiple states 

  

  By Greg Collier

  If you or someone you know receives any kind of benefit assistance from your state, you may want to be on the lookout for suspicious text messages regarding your benefits. Just this week, we’ve come across three states where those receiving benefits through EBT cards have been warned about text messages that appear to come from the state.

  In all three states, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, the scams are the same. Recipients have received text messages stating that their benefits would be cut off if they didn’t call the number in the text to confirm their account number and their PIN. Once the scammers have this information, they’re able to drain the recipient’s account.

  For many recipients, if they miss even a month of benefits, that could mean their children go hungry, or they could be evicted from their homes. With this kind of risk hanging over their heads, you can see why some may respond to these text messages out of fear. This fear is precisely what the scammers are counting on.

  The scammers don’t know who specifically is receiving benefits, so they’re sending out text messages en masse in hopes of finding a few victims. You may receive a text message even if you’re not receiving any state benefits.

  Most states do send out texts to benefit recipients, such as reminders when it’s time for renewal. However, these states will never send text messages asking for personal information like your PIN, Social Security number, or date of birth, just to name a few.

  Since this scam has already happened in multiple states, there’s a good chance it could be happening in yours. If you receive a text message like this, do not respond and delete the message. If you fall victim to this scam, contact your state immediately, as it could take another month before the benefits can be replaced.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on November 29, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: check washing ( 19 ), Facebook ( 182 ), Facebook Messenger ( 4 ), IRS ( 29 ), job scam ( 92 ), refund scam ( 12 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), text scam   

  Scam Round Up: Job scam wants your Facebook login and more 

  

  By Greg Collier

  If you’re thinking of sending money to relatives as a gift this holiday season, you may want to reconsider writing a check. Once again, scammers are stealing mail from mailboxes in hopes of finding a handwritten check. In a process called check washing, scammers can soak the check in chemicals that will remove the ink from a handwritten check. The scammers will then write the check for any amount they please before cashing it.

  To better protect yourself from this scam, mail any checks you may be sending inside the post office itself. This goes a long way in preventing the mail from being stolen. There are also special pens you can purchase that are resistant to the check washing chemicals.

  ***

  The Federal Trade Commission has issued an alert warning taxpayers about a refund scam. According to the FTC, scammers have been sending out text messages claiming you’re eligible for a ‘tax rebate’or some other kind of payment from the IRS. As with most text messaging scams, the messages contain a link for the recipient to click on to get their supposed refund. Clicking on the link could have devastating consequences as it could either ask you for personal or financial information, leading to identity theft, or it could inject malware into your phone.

  Just keep in mind that the IRS is never going to initiate contact with a taxpayer through text messages. If there is any kind of issue concerning your federal taxes, you will receive a notice in the mail before anything else.

  ***

  A woman from Missouri was almost scammed out of her Facebook account while applying for a job online. A friend of a friend had posted a job ad on his Facebook page. While interviewing for the job, she was told that she was being interviewed by the company’s founder and CEO. All the interviews took place through messaging apps like Messenger and Google Chat. The phony CEO asked the woman for a copy of her driver’s license and Social Security card, which may not seem unusual. However, she was also asked for her Facebook login information. Thankfully, she realized this was a scam and cut off contact with the scammer.

  While there have been stories in the past about employers asking for employees’ Facebook logins, those are rare exceptions and not the norm. This seems like the scammers wanted her personal information to hijack her Facebook account and use it for additional scams. Having her personal information might allow them to claim that they are the actual owners of the Facebook account. The acquaintance’s account was more than likely hijacked by the scammers.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on November 17, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: phishing ( 89 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), text messaging ( 37 ), text scam, USPS ( 15 )   

  Postal delivery scam back in time for holidays 

  

  By Greg Collier

  The delivery scam really never went away. It was insanely popular with scammers during the pandemic, when we were supposed to be sheltering at home. Since then, there have been reports of this scam, but nowhere near as many as during the pandemic. However, with the holiday season on the horizon, this scam has started to pick up steam again.

  Since many of us will be expecting packages delivered to our homes for the holidays, scammers are betting on people being paranoid about the delivery itself. Several regions across the US are reporting an increase in scam text messages that claim to be from the United States Postal Service. These messages say you missed a delivery to your home, or it will say that the package address wasn’t clear enough.

  The message contains a link to click on, so you can supposedly reschedule the delivery. In previous instances of this scam, if you click the link, you’d be taken to a website that looks like the USPS website but isn’t. You’d then be asked to enter your financial information because there is a redelivery fee of $3.00. From here, the scammers would use your financial information to steal as much as they can from you before you notice.

  If you receive a text message like this, think about it for a moment. Did you give the post office your phone number? You probably didn’t and there’s no way for them to find it. The days of the White Pages are over. In general, government services are not in the habit of calling or texting their users. In the majority of cases, if there’s a problem with the service, you need to go to them.

  The best way to protect yourself from this scam is to not click on any links in text messages from people you don’t know personally. You can also sign up for the USPS Informed Delivery service, so you can know exactly when a delivery is expected to be delivered to your home.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 1, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: document replacement scam, floods ( 4 ), natural disasters ( 23 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), text scam   

  A different type of disaster scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  This summer, the country has experienced a number of major storms. While no hurricanes have made landfall yet, these storms have done untold damage. From the floods of Kentucky and the Midwest, to Mississippi, and parts of the Northeast, many Americans have had to deal with tremendous loss after these floods.

  When these floods have struck, we have posted warnings about scams that could not only affect flood victims, but our other readers as well. You never know when a natural disaster may hit your area. The typical scams we warn about are scammers posing as FEMA agent, home insurance scams, and contractor scams. On top of those, there’s another scam that we haven’t even heard of until now. But obviously the scammers have.

  One of the Better Business Bureau branches in Louisiana is warning about what they’re calling a post-disaster document replacement scam. And if anybody should know about flood scams, it’s the Pelican State. While many of us might think the most important thing to do after a natural disaster is contact FEMA or your home insurance company. But what if you lost your everyday documents such as your driver’s license to the flood?

  The BBB is stating that in past floods this year, scammers started texting people in the flooded areas. The texts claimed to offer flood victims assistance in getting new copies of their driver’s license, Medicare or Medicaid cards, and Social Security cards. Victims would then be asked to click on a link to a phony website designed to take your personal and possibly financial information.

  As great as it would be, no government service is going to reach out to you first to offer assistance in getting new documents. In each case, you would need to notify the different departments in charge of each document, whether it’s the state or federal government.

  A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is if you’ve been the victim of a natural disaster, and people start calling you offering assistance out of the blue, be very suspicious of their offer.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 24, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: identity theft ( 129 ), Scams ( 1,595 ), text messaging ( 37 ), text scam, unemployment benefits ( 23 ), unemployment scam ( 30 )   

  Text scam affects the unemployed 

  

  By Greg Collier

  It’s no secret the economy is in disarray. It’s affecting those collecting unemployment harder, since unemployment payments aren’t going as far as they used to. That’s not even considering that unemployment benefits aren’t sustainable for most recipients to begin with. Of course, leave it to scammers to try to take from those who have very little to give.

  We’ve seen reports from two states, West Virginia and South Carolina, who have reported residents who have received text messages that appear to come from each states’ unemployment division. However, the text messages in both states are identical.

  The text message says, “Your Back-to-work payment of $4,200.00 is now available, click on to receive payment.” The URL in the text messages are disguised to look like the message came from a .gov address, but if you look closer, you can see the address actually ends in .com. If someone were to click the link, they would be taken to a website that looks like the state’s unemployment website. That website asks the recipient to enter their personal details. This could lead to identity theft or having their unemployment benefits stolen.

  Since this scam is occurring in at least two states, it could be only a matter of time before it’s in all states. If you’ll recall, the previous unemployment scam that occurred during lockdown swept across the country like wildfire.

  To our knowledge, no state is offering a ‘back-to-work’ payment through their unemployment divisions. The scammers are trying to convince their victims that state governments are issuing additional economic impact payments, like the federal government issued last year.

  If you receive a text like this, it’s advised to delete the message and not click on any links contained in the message. If you’ve already given your information to an unemployment scammer, you should contact your state’s unemployment office right away to let them know.