There are a multitude of other types of scams that affect victims on a daily basis. A great resourse I have found is ScamHelp.Info which assists in the recovery and identification of these various scams. ScamHelp.Info is dedicated to guiding scam victims as they move forward after a scam has occurred or to help prevent further victimization by education. If you believe you are a victim of a scam, scamhelp.info provides scam support to victims of scams from Certified Victim Advocates with specialization in identifying scams, identity theft and trauma associated with victimization go to https://scamhelp.info/ Direct mail to: [email protected]. If you come across something that makes you feel uneasy, such as an email, text, profile, social media post, website or phone call, contact us and we can help identify if it is a scam and how to protect yourself from other types of scams.
Refund/Rebate Scam
The refund/rebate scam is where the scammer poses as a representative of a company, government agency, or financial institution and contacts individuals, claiming they are entitled to a refund or rebate due to an overcharge or mistake. The scammer then requests remote access to a device such as a computer or phone by using remote software. Personal information, such as social security numbers, bank account information, or credit card numbers, under the guise of processing the refund or rebate. The scammer uses this information to steal the victim’s identity or money. The scammer will request payment of an over payment of refund. To avoid falling victim to this type of scam, individuals should be wary of unsolicited requests for personal information, remote access to any device and always verify the legitimacy of the initial contact before providing any sensitive information.
Lottery Scam
The lottery scam is a type of fraud where the scammer contacts individuals and informs them that they have won a large sum of money in a lottery, sweepstakes, or other contest. The scammer represents popular lottery names such as Publishers Clearing house and Mega millions. They use legitimate names of the real Lottery to disguise themselves and request that the victim pay upfront taxes or processing fees, in order to claim the prize. The scammer may request personal information or bank account details under the guise of processing the winnings. Once the victim provides the requested information or pays the fee, the scammer uses the victim to launder funds, leaving the victim with no winnings and potentially suffering from identity theft or financial losses. To avoid falling victim to the lottery scam, individuals must know they will never be contacted via email-text- phone- or any means notifying them they have won a prize. Above all no pre tax or fee is ever required to receive winnings of any legitimate lottery.
Technical Support
The technical support scam is where the scammer contacts individuals, usually through a phone call or a pop-up message on their computer and claims to be a representative from a reputable tech company or internet service provider. The scammer informs the victim that there is a problem with their computer or internet connection and offers to provide technical support to fix the issue. In these types of scams the scammer will ask the victim to install software that gives the scammer remote access to their computer or device, which will be used to steal personal information, steal money, install malware or ransomware, or otherwise cause harm to the victim’s device or data. They will provide “proof” of a hacking attempt and claim the entirety of the victims funds are now compromised. The scammer will request payment for the technical support service, have the victim secure all their funds with a safe account until the hackers are caught, leaving the victim with astronomical financial losses. To avoid falling victim to the technical support scam, individuals should be wary of unsolicited messages or calls, never provide remote access to their computer or device, and always verify the legitimacy of the initial contact before providing any sensitive information.
Romance Scam
The romance scam is where a scammer creates a fake online profile on dating websites or social media platforms to form a romantic relationship with the victim. The scammer typically uses a false identity and profile picture to gain the victim’s trust and affection over time. Once the scammer has established a relationship with the victim, they will begin to ask for money, claiming that they need financial assistance for a variety of reasons, such as a medical emergency or to travel to meet the victim in person. The scammer may also attempt to obtain personal information, engage in identity theft and use the victim to launder money. To avoid falling victim to the romance scam, individuals should be cautious of individuals who request financial assistance or personal information, and should never send money to someone they have not met in person. These scammers are clever and use Ai imaging to make what appears to be real phone/video calls to their victims.
Relative in Need Scam
The relative in need scam, also known as the grandparent scam, is where the scammer contacts the victim, posing as a family member or friend in urgent need of financial assistance. The scammer typically claims to be in a difficult situation, such as losing a phone, being stranded in a foreign country or facing an unexpected medical or legal emergency. The scammer then requests that the victim send money to them to help them out of their predicament. The scammer often relies on the victim’s emotional connection to the supposed family member or friend to make them more susceptible to the scam. These scammers will use extensive Google searches to obtain as much information on their victims as they can in order to sound real. To avoid falling victim to this type of scam, individuals should be wary of unsolicited requests for financial assistance, always verify the identity of the person making the request, and never send money without first verifying the situation.
Medicare Scam
The Medicare scam is when the scammer poses as a representative of Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan and contacts individuals to obtain personal, financial information, and above all your personal Medicare Number. The scammer may offer services or products, such as a new Medicare card or a medical device, and request that the individual provide their Medicare number and other personal information. The scammer then uses this information to bill Medicare for services or products that were never provided, or to engage in identity theft. To avoid falling victim to these types of scams, individuals should never provide their Medicare number to anyone. Medicare will never call you EVER! Medicare beneficiaries should periodically review their Medicare Summary Notices to ensure that they have only been charged for services or products they actually received.
Loan scam
The loan scam is where the scammer offers individuals loans with favorable terms, such as low or no interest rates or no credit check required. The scammer may advertise these loans through online classifieds or social media, or may contact individuals directly by phone or email. The scammer typically requests an upfront fee or security deposit to process the loan application, which they then keep without ever providing the promised loan. The scammer requests personal information or bank account details, which they then use to steal the victim’s identity and money. To avoid falling victim to the loan scam, individuals should never accept unsolicited loan offers and should always verify the legitimacy of the lender in person. Legitimate lenders do not require upfront fees and will not contact individuals who have not applied for a loan.
Investment Scam
The investment scam is where the scammer creates an enticing offer that appears to be a legitimate investment opportunity. They may offer high returns with little to no risk and may provide false testimonials and credentials to lure in potential victims. The scammer may also use high-pressure tactics to encourage individuals to invest quickly before the supposed opportunity disappears. Once the victim invests money in the scheme, they will ask for more investment money or fees often luring in family members to the scam. They will leave the victim with no returns on their investment, a fake portfolio, and significant financial losses. To avoid falling victim, individuals should be wary of investment opportunities, should research any investment opportunity by performing a proper Broker Check, and be suspicious of any offer that promises high returns with little or no risk.
Government or Immigration Scam
The Government/Immigration scam is where the scammer poses as a Government Official, Police, Immigration Official, Border Patrol or Social Security. The scammer will claim there is a case of fraud in the Victims name and they must secure all their funds with the Government until the case is resolved. They will request personal information or documents, such as passports, SSA #’s, Driver’s Licenses and personal ID’s which they then use to steal the victim’s identity. The scammer will threaten the victim with deportation, legal action or arrest if they do not cooperate. To avoid falling victim to the Government/Immigration scam, individuals should know that no Government Official or agency representing a lawsuit or arrest will EVER contact you by phone or email.
Other Types of Scams
These types of scams are not by any means the only scams you will come across online. There are many other types of scams on social media platforms, by sms, email and even knocking on your door.
It is always good to be cynical when you are offered something that is too good to be true
If you live in the US it is important to report this scam to the BBB. Click here to see why. As well as the Better Business Bureau you should report this crime to the Federal Trade Commission. See Here