The vast majority of us try our best to prevent being scammed. Still, no matter what we try, it’s always in the back of our mind. We might have family members or friends who were victimized by scammers. Maybe you’re reading this and it was you who lost big. It’s even possible you’re being victimized right now and you don’t even know it!
No, this isn’t about scare tactics. It’s a warning that criminal scammers are constantly hard at work. And no matter the type of defenses we present, they find new ways around them. What’s worse is that the public seems unprepared for what might happen to them. They often don’t know what happens until it’s too late.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, $1.4 billion was stolen by scammers in 2018. That’s three million people who have made complaints about fraudulent activity. These people lost anywhere from $1 to $10,000 at any given time. The average amount lost is around $375, with many attempts being higher than that.
That’s really the crux of the problem. You may not think such a small amount of money is a scam. For example, you seek help with mortgage foreclosure relief. You truly believe the company you’ve “hired” is going to do what they promise. Yet, this is no obvious Nigerian Prince scam. People are paying upwards of $1,377 to these scammers thinking they’re legit.
Fighting Scammers
In order to fight back against fraud of all types is remaining educated. Even when they seem to know their way around protections you set up for yourself. Still, if you know the type of theft that’s out there, you can work to prevent it. Half of all the complaints were about fraud. If you’re a bit more aware of your surroundings, you can spot it a mile away.
One way is not to jump in too quickly if you see something that appears too good to be true. Usually, it is. The truth is, imposter scams were reported 535,000 times. This happens when scammers pretend to be someone they’re not. It can be a romance scam, playing on your emotions. It can be a call from someone saying they work for the government.
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Identity theft is another big one. It accounts for around 15% of all reports. Credit card fraud was the most active type of identity theft perpetrated by scammers. Tax fraud, where someone files under your name and social security number to steal your tax refund. Even debt collectors calling your house can be a fraud.
You Are in Charge
At the end of the day, you’re responsible for protecting yourself. Discover all the ways you can keep your social security and credit card number hidden and safe. If you get a random phone call, it may be from scammers. Don’t just give them your money over the phone. Ask for a company name, number, and address. From there, do your research.
Lastly, do not give out personal or sensitive information unless you are sure you know who you’re talking to. They may even try to trip you up so you ‘correct’ them with the information they were looking for. Look for the signs and double check who they are before dealing with them.
