Scams & Seniors - Fraud is Skyrocketing Nationwide During the Holidays

Why Is It on the Rise?

More and more people are shopping online for anything and everything. The internet is faceless. Shoppers are vulnerable because it's more and more difficult to know who to trust online. With the worldwide deployment of artificial intelligence, even the most authentic looking sites and offers can be faked.

With 42+ years in IT, I have lived to see all of it, from the beginning to current day. I consider myself to be extremely savvy in technology, capable of fixing the most difficult issues and creating the impossible for others to experience. And I can tell you, it's becoming more difficult by the hour to determine the difference between reality and deep fakes on the web.

Approximtely 89% of every adult in the United States has experienced at least one scam - from fake toll payment invoices to phony charity phone calls. Between misleading digital ads that aim to confuse you and offers that seem too good to be true. More than half of adults have repoted receiving a fake shipping notice this year, while 40% have encountered deceptive ads on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and X, for example).

People are shopping and turning to the internet for most of their information. Criminals are exploiting that fact because with so much buying and giving, comes so many opportunities to make cash. Where there is cash to be taken, there are criminals happy to take it.

How Criminals Operate

Before you can take steps towards protecting yourself and the ones you love, you first need to understand how criminals operate. You can't protect anyone if you don't see what's coming.

Here's how they begin.

You receive an unsolicited phone call from a phone number you don't recognize.

You receive notices in your email inbox claiming you owe a specified amount of money for driving on a toll road without paying; for having an order shipped to you that you haven't paid for; that you have a balance on a medical bill.

You have won a gift card, a blanket, a toolbox, a car organizer, or something else pretty cool and all you have to do is pay the shipping.

You receive a call from a charity thanking you for donating in the past and now asking for more because the economy has caused them to fall on hard times.

Here's how they operate.

They use pressure tactics for immediate donations via untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or bitcoin.

They use emotional manipulation to rush you into making payments.

They offer you the ability to settle your fake debt by using gift cards.

They pose as family members or close friends begging you for emergency money and not to tell anyone.

They talk you to death, asking you questions and then continue to talk before you can give them an answer, causing you to feel confused and anxious.

They tell you that you missed a package delivery via email and texts asking you to pay up on a required 'fee'.

These are all forms of assault designed to make you cave in and do as they ask you to do.

Take a look at this image. What do you see? Do you see the magician waving the wand and filling the hat with money or do you think he's about to make it disappear? This is the mind of a scammer. They'll tell you one thing and do exactly the opposite.

Read on. Learn how to deal with this attack on your personal livelihood.

How to Deal With Scammers and Fraudsters

Pause before doing anything. Scammers rely on urgency and fear. Take time to verify the situation before making any decisions or payments. You have taken time to help family and friends throughout your lifetime. Call one of them and explain the situation. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Chances are they've encountered the same thing you are! The worst that can come out of it is treating them to a cup of coffee and a treat in exchange for the money you just saved yourself from losing!

Verify Identities and Organizations. If someone is claiming to be a family member, hang up and call them back on their number that you have for them. For charities, look them up on reputable sites like Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. For shipping, type the tracking number into the official company website of the delivery company. Always ask for help. This doesn't mean you're weak or frail. It means you're smart!

Never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever share your Social Security number, bank information, or other private details to anyone over the phone or through email. Especially to unsolicited callers or in response to unexpected messages. Especially to people you don't know. Save these kinds of exchanges for the times you're face to face with your family, or face to face with the bank teller, or face to face with your financial advisor.

Follow those 3 simple guidelines and you'll save yourself, and others, a lot of trouble.