FBI Fraud Alert: “If you can answer “yes” to any of the questions, you could be involved in a fraud or about to be scammed”.
Internet crime schemes that steal millions of dollars each year from victims continue to plague the Internet through various methods.
Following are preventative measures that will assist you in being informed prior to entering into transactions over the Internet.
Are you about to cash a check from an item you sold on the Internet, such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc?
- Is it the result of communicating with someone by email?
- Did it arrive via an overnight delivery service?
- Is it from a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?
- Is the amount for more than the item’s selling price?
Are you sending money overseas?
- Did you win an international lottery you didn’t enter?
- Have you been asked to pay money to receive an inheritance from another country?
- Are you receiving a commission for accepting money transfers through your bank and/or PayPal account?
BBB is offering consumers the following advice:
- Use Caller ID to screen calls, and consider not even answering unfamiliar numbers. If it’s important, they will leave a message and you can call back.
- If someone calls and asks “Can you hear me?”, do NOT answer “Yes.” Just hang up.
Scammers change their tactics as the public catches on, so be alert for other questions designed to solicit a simple “yes” answer.
- Make a note of the number and report it to bbb.org/scamtracker to help warn others. BBB also shares Scam Tracker information with government and law enforcement agencies, so every piece of information is helpful in tracking down scammers.
- Consider joining the Do Not Call Registry (DoNotCall.gov) to cut down on telemarketing and sales calls. This may not help with scammers since they don’t bother to pay attention to the law, but you’ll get fewer calls overall. That may help you more quickly notice the ones that could be fraudulent.
- Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized charges. It’s also a good idea to check your telephone and cell phone bills, as well. Scammers may be using the “Yes” recording of your voice to authorize charges on your phone. This is called “cramming” and it’s illegal.
What to Do If You’ve Been a Victim of Scams?
Contact LIFARS immediately
Credits:
How to Report Scam and Fraud: https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds#item-35157
https://www.ic3.gov/alertArchive.aspx
https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/5691-bbb-warning-if-caller-asks-can-you-hear-me-just-hang-up