Recent Scams
How you can recognize and avoid a scam (and help others)
The FTC Consumer Fraud Survey showed that Latinos are more likely to experience fraud than non-Hispanic whites. Over the past year, that probably means dealing with a scammer who pretended to be someone they’re not, like a government official, a known business, or a family member or friend. The top scam reported to the FTC in 2020 was impersonator scams like these, with nearly 500,000 reports...
IRS Criminal Investigation sees surge in scams tied to Economic Impact Payments
The Internal Revenue Service received a record number of reports about Economic Impact Payment scams in June and July 2021. "Even though taxpayers have received multiple rounds of Economic Impact Payments, we saw phishing scams surge this summer," said Jim Lee, Chief of IRS Criminal Investigation. "The number of reported scam attempts reached levels we haven't seen in more than a decade....
SpyFone barred from selling stalking apps that secretly monitor phone activity
Phone monitoring apps designed to avoid detection by the owner of the phone don’t just invade your privacy — they make it possible for stalkers and domestic abusers to track the location of the person they are targeting in real-time.
Veterans could be targets of pension poaching scams
If you currently receive VA pension payments or if you are thinking about applying for Veterans Pension, Survivors Pension, or Aid and Attendance (A&A) and housebound benefits, you could be the target of a scam known as pension poaching. Don’t let scammers take advantage of you. Read on to see how you can protect the benefits you have earned.
Social Security Administration Impostor Scam
Social Security Administration imposters contact prospective victims by telephone and falsely claim that the victim’s Social Security number has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it has been involved in a crime. They ask to confirm the victim’s Social Security number, or they may say they need to withdraw money from the victim’s bank and to store it on gift cards...
Scammers cash in on confusion over vaccine verification methods
More than a year into the pandemic, and months after the first rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, people are eager to get back to their regular activities. But some activities might require you to show that you’ve been vaccinated or had a recent negative COVID-19 test. How you do that may depend on the activity and where you live.
Attorney General Nessel Warns of Amazon Scam Calls
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing a consumer alert on robocalls after the Department received complaints related to calls impersonating Amazon customer service. Michiganders should scrutinize calls alerting them to suspicious activity on their Amazon account and avoid giving out personal information if you receive one.
Unwanted calls: Just block ’em and report ’em
Unwanted calls are annoying. They can feel like a constant interruption — and many are from scammers. Unfortunately, technology makes it easy for scammers to make millions of calls a day. So this week, as part of Older Americans Month, we’re talking about how to block unwanted calls — for yourself, and for your friends and family.
SSA Inspector General: New Tactics for Government Imposters
Last month, we partnered with our Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the annual National “Slam the Scam” Day to help you learn how to identify and avoid government imposter scams. These scams are widespread across the United States and often involve Social Security number-related issues. Scammers’ tactics continue to evolve.
Don't open your door to grandparent scams
When it comes to scammers, nothing is sacred — including the bond between grandparent and grandchild. Lately, grandparent scammers have gotten bolder: they might even come to your door to collect money, supposedly for your grandchild in distress.
Scammers target loved ones of COVID-19 victims
Government imposters may have hit a new low with a scheme that targets the grieving survivors of people who died of COVID-19 by offering them help paying for their loved one’s funeral expenses.
Spotting scammy emails
Let’s say you get an email about a charge to your credit card for something you aren’t expecting or don’t want. Your first instinct may be to immediately call the company or respond to the email and to stop the payment. Scammers know that, and are taking advantage of it in a new phishing scheme.
Scams will follow new COVID-19 rescue plan
The pandemic is still taking a toll on every kind of well-being we have. The new American Rescue Plan, just signed into law, gets the ball rolling to help out on many people’s financial well-being. Payments will soon be coming by direct deposit, checks, or a debit card to people eligible for the payment. You can learn more about who’s eligible, and the timing, at IRS.gov/coronavirus....
When it comes to scams, let’s look out for one another
This pandemic has brought lots of side effects. Lost jobs, lost income, and lost homes are themes we see around the country — and scammers know just how to take advantage of these worries. Another side effect of the pandemic is isolation, which scammers also like to use to their advantage. During National Consumer Protection Week, which starts today, I’m asking you to join me in fighting...
Not love, actually
Valentine’s Day is this weekend, so over the next three days, we’re talking about romance scams. Lots of people have profiles on dating apps to meet someone — maybe even more so in these virtual times. And many people have built successful relationships from an online start. But what if, instead of finding a potential partner, you find a scam?
