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  Geebo 8:00 am on October 9, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: gig economy ( 5 ), lyft ( 15 ), rideshare ( 5 ), rideshare scam ( 5 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), Uber ( 24 ), verification code   

  Rideshare drivers are being scammed out of their earnings again 

  

  By Greg Collier

  A new report has just come out that states rideshare drivers for services like Lyft and Uber are being targeted in scams, again. Anything connected to the internet is vulnerable to one scam or another, and that seems to be affecting rideshare drivers as well. Except this time, as the cliché goes, the calls seem to be coming from inside the house.

  The drivers are being locked out of their Uber or Lyft accounts by scammers. The scammers pose as Uber or Lyft themselves. The drivers typically receive a call from the scammers posing as whichever service they drive for. The scammers will tell the drivers there is something wrong with their account, or their account has been suspended after a customer complaint.

  After a moment, the scammers will tell the drivers that they need to verify the driver’s identification. A code will be sent to the driver through text message, and they’ll be asked to repeat that code to the caller. This code is actually the code to reset the driver’s password to their account. Once the scammer gets a hold of that code, they can change the password on the account, locking the driver out.

  From there, the scammers change where the driver’s payment is supposed to go to the scammers bank account. Then the driver’s account is drained of all the driver’s current earnings. This scam can cost a driver hundreds of dollars.

  The new report about this scam sheds some more light on it since the last time we posted about this. One driver from Portland who fell victim to this scam said the caller talked like they worked in the industry. He said they knew all the company jargon and completely fooled him into handing over his account.

  Lyft has told the media they will never call a driver asking for personal information unless the driver reaches out first.

  Again, you may not be a rideshare driver, but you could hold any another position in the gig economy, which is also vulnerable to this scam.

  If you happen to receive such a phone call, politely inform the caller that you will return their call and take the initiative to verify the situation directly through the platform. Nearly all gig economy applications should offer a feedback or contact option within the app or website, allowing you to reach out to the company for clarification.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 28, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: authorization code ( 7 ), google voice ( 13 ), missing pets ( 11 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), verification code   

  Google Voice scam targets owners of lost pets 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Proving, once again, that there is no bad situation they won’t take advantage of, scammers are targeting people who have recently lost their pets. In the past, when a pet owner takes to social media asking for information about their lost pet, scammers would claim they found the lost pet while trying to extort money from the pet owner. More recently, scammers have changed their tactics to use lost pet owners for a less obvious scam.

  In Seminole County, Florida, police there have reported an upswing in the number of scam attempts on lost pet owners. In this scam, lost cat owners have been receiving text messages after posting to lost pet Facebook groups and lost pet websites. The scammers then ask for an authorization code that was texted to the pet owner that the scammers will say is used to verify the pet owner’s identity.

  This is a scam that has also been used against online sellers. It’s the Google Voice scam, where scammers will try to use someone else’s phone number to obtain a Google Voice number. Google Voice is a service that allows you to have a second phone number. The second number is not only tied to your Google account, but it’s also tied to your primary phone number.

  The authorization code is for when you sign up for Google Voice. If you give that code to a scammer, they’ll get a Google Voice number they can use in future scams that is linked to your phone number. Then the scammers can use the Google Voice number tied to your phone to commit other scams.

  The best way to avoid this scam is to sign up for your own Google Voice number. This way, scammers can’t use your phone number in their scam, since you’ve already signed up for the service. You don’t even need to use Google Voice as it has a do not disturb setting.

  If you ever lose a pet, ask the caller for a picture of the pet. If the caller gives you excuses why they can’t, it’s more than likely a scam. Another good way to help prevent this scam is to get your pets microchipped, even if they’re indoor pets like some cats.

   
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  Geebo 8:01 am on May 31, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: authorization code ( 7 ), google voice ( 13 ), online marketplace ( 11 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), verification code   

  BBB warns online sellers of verification scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  The Better Business Bureau is sounding the alarm to online sellers that they may not want to list their phone numbers in their ads. That’s because scammers will call these numbers posing as a buyer, only to try to use the seller’s phone number in another scam.

  For those who may not know, Google Voice is a service offered by Google that allows you to have a second phone number. That second phone number can be used for a variety of purposes. Some users who have multiple phone numbers for work and home can have all their calls forwarded to their Google Voice number. Many others use it as a way to keep spammers away. For example, when a store you frequent always asks for your phone number, you can give them your Google Voice number instead. You can even use it to avoid taking any calls. If you set it to ‘Do Not Disturb’ anyone who calls that number will be sent straight to voicemail.

  While Google Voice is a convenience for consumers, it’s also been a boon for scammers. Each Google Voice number needs to be attached to an actual phone number. You can’t sign up for the service without one. Scammers can’t use their actual phone number to sign up for Google Voice because then their calls will be traced back to them. So, what they do instead is try to sign up for Google Voice using a victim’s phone number.

  If you’re selling something online and have posted your phone number in the listing, the scammer might act like they’re sending you a code to verify that you’re not a scammer. What’s really going on is they’re signing up for Google Voice using your phone number. It’s Google who is actually sending you the verification code. If a victim gives the verification to the scammer, the scammer can then use the Google Voice number that’s tied to the victim’s phone to make more scam phone calls. If another victim complains, the phone number is traced back to the initial victim instead of the scammer.

  This scam is not just used for Google Voice. It can be used to hijack a number of online accounts, including financial accounts. If someone you don’t know says they’re sending you a code for verification, do not give them that code number. Also, you shouldn’t list your phone number in any ad listings you post. Most platforms, including Geebo.com, have a method of communicating with the seller or buyer without compromising your phone number.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on April 18, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: authorization code ( 7 ), bank fraud ( 23 ), bank scam ( 70 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), verification code, Zelle ( 66 )   

  Is the Zelle scam getting more sophisticated? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Previously, we have said that scams are almost like living organisms. They’re constantly evolving and changing as people start catching on to the original scam. However, a scam can bed tweaked just enough to find a whole new generation of victims. One of those scams that has evolved quickly in a short time is the Zelle scam.

  For those who may not know, Zelle is a payment app that works along the same lines as Venmo. The main difference between Zelle and Venmo is Zelle is co-owned by some of the country’s largest banks. Many of these banks’ apps have Zelle already built-in. For about the past six months, the Zelle scam has been one of the most reported scams in America.

  The Zelle scam starts when you get a text message that appears to come from your bank. The text message asks if you’ve recently made a large purchase or payment. You’re then asked to reply either yes or no to the text message. When you reply to the text message, your reply will be followed up with a phone call from scammers posing as your bank’s fraud department. The scammers will walk you through a process on the Zelle app that the scammers say will protect your account from any fraudulent activity. What’s really going on is the scammers are instructing you on how to put your money in the scammer’s account.

  In the Salt Lake City-area of Utah, a new variation of this scam has been reported. In it, the scammers skip the text message and go straight to the phone call. A bank customer will be told they’re speaking with their bank’s fraud department and fraudulent activity has been spotted on the customer’s account. The scammers will even tell the customer their last few bank transactions. A made up transaction is added to that list to make it seem like there’s been a fraudulent charge to the customer’s account.

  At this point, the scammers will ask the customer if they want to sign up for a fraud notification service. If the customer says yes, they’ll be texted a security code. The scammers will then ask for that code to supposedly verify that they have the right phone number. The code is actually an authorization code to change the customer’s password. Once the scammers have the code, they lock the customer out of their own account and start transferring the funds to another account through Zelle. Since the Zelle app doesn’t have the same protections as something like a credit card, it has become increasingly difficult for scam victims to recover their lost money.

  If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from your bank, politely end the call and call your bank’s customer service department back at the correct customer service number. The number can usually be found on the back of your debit card or on the bank’s website. Don’t just do a Google search for the bank’s number, as that could lead you to an entirely different fake customer service department.

  Lastly, if you receive a text message or email with any kind of security code on it, do not give it to anyone. These codes are mostly used for password recovery or resetting a password. If you give the code to someone you don’t know, they could have access to your most sensitive accounts.

  Alvaro Urbaez (@urbaez22) is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    Alvaro Urbaez (@urbaez22) 8:59 am on April 20, 2022 Permalink

    I fell in another variation. I call it as the third party payment, and is very often in criptocurrencies portals like Binance or Coinbase.. Some one offers for your coins, but the payment via Zelle is sent by a third person, you verify the addition of the money to your account, so you release the coins; a few hours later, the owner of the other account (the third person) files a claim on their bank telling them they didn’t perform that payment; the bank will retain the funds on your account, and eventually will debit them in order to return them to that third person. So, you lose your money, and the scammer goes away with it, and the bank won’t even allow you to file a claim on that.. It happened to me with Bank of America. They have a serius security breach on that matter, and the responsible for the exploit was me, and like me there are lots of people affected..

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  Geebo 9:00 am on January 10, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: authorization code ( 7 ), Facebook Marketplace ( 62 ), FBI ( 22 ), google voice ( 13 ), lost pet scam ( 5 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), verification code   

  FBI warns about Google Voice scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Google Voice is a pretty cool service as it allows you to have a second phone number for free. One of the benefits of having a Google Voice number is that you can give it to stores and retailers who constantly ask for your phone number instead of giving out your primary phone number. Or, if you have multiple numbers such as work and home, you can have your Google Voice number ring both numbers. You can also put your Google Voice account on do not disturb, so any call to your Google Voice number will go straight to a voicemail message. However, as with many beneficial technology tools, scammers are using Google Voice to perpetuate more scams.

  The Google Voice scam tends to target people who are selling items online, especially through Facebook Marketplace. The supposed buyer will tell you that they want to verify that you’re not a scammer. To achieve this, a text message will be sent to your phone number with a six digit verification code. The scammer will then ask you to provide them with that code. What the scammers are really doing is setting up a Google Voice account for themselves that is attached to your number. They’ll then use that Google Voice number to perpetuate more scams, while that number can be traced back to you. It’s gotten so bad, not only has the FBI issued a warning about the scam, but the scammers are also targeting people who have posted about lost pets on social media.

  If someone you don’t know asks for a code that was sent to your phone, there’s a good chance that it’s an authorization code that scammers can use to wreak all sorts of havoc. They can be trying to get you to turn your bank account over to them, or you could be giving them access to any one of your online accounts.

  If you think you’ve fallen victim to this scam, Google has instructions on how to reclaim the number.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on November 1, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: craigslist ( 129 ), Facebook Marketplace ( 62 ), google voice ( 13 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), verification code   

  Scammers stealing phone numbers from online sellers 

  

  By Greg Collier

  When you use an unmoderated online marketplace like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, there’s a better than average chance that you’ll be dealing with at least one scammer. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying or selling, but today we’re going to focus on the latest scam that’s been plaguing sellers in recent months. While it’s not a new scam, online security experts say that they’ve seen a resurgence of the scam since August. It goes by a few names, like the verification code scam or the Google Voice scam, but it’s still a scam that everyone should be aware of.

  Scammers are approaching online sellers as if they’re interested in the item being sold. The scammers will ironically tell the seller that they’re concerned about scams and that they have a way to verify that the seller is a real person. The seller will then receive a text message with a verification code on it, and the scammers will ask for this code. Once the scammers have the code, they’ll use it to open a Google Voice account using the seller’s phone number. This is done so the scammers can have a legitimate US phone number that can be used in future scams. Meanwhile, the seller is completely unaware that a Google Voice account has been opened in their name. And if someone complains to Google that the number is being used in a scam, it will trace back to the seller’s phone number and not the scammers’.

  There are a couple of ways to avoid falling victim to this scam. The first way is that if you receive one of these verification texts, the text will say not to share the number with anyone. Verification code texts are also used by scammers to bypass two-factor authentication. So no matter who sent the text, never share any verification codes. The second way to help avoid this scam is to get your own Google Voice number. They can be very handy, such as giving your Google Voice number to any store or website that asks for a phone number at checkout. Instead of giving them your actual phone number, you can give them the Google Voice number instead.