Although people tend to believe they are not susceptible, up to 16% of US adults report that at least one member of their household has fallen prey to a scam. Given the multitude of scams in existence, it’s little wonder that victims of this crime are rising. Romance, charity, phishing, lottery, overpayment, gift cards and fake ads are just a few types of prevalent scams.
Trooper Tom shares that law enforcement regularly responds to citizens homes and he has himself been a victim. “I have been a victim of a travel scam in which I paid money for a cruise that I was unable to collect on. If something seems too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.”
Scammers are primarily motivated by financial gain, often using personal information to steal an identity. Although they are not new, romance scams are becoming more common. This type of scam, in which citizens often send money to people they’ve never met as the scammer plays with the victim’s emotions or in which victims fall deeply in love with a person they believed they have developed a meaningful online relationship with, are particularly embarrassing for victims and often go unreported. A newly released book delves into the personal experience of three women who experienced this heartbreak first hand. “There is No Ethan” is a memoir about an internet predator who preyed upon the emotions of the victims. The author hopes that bringing attention to this subject will prevent others from falling victim.
“Scams are not going away because they are successful. The best way for citizens to combat scams in my opinion is awareness and education,” says Trooper Tom.
If victims report their experience to law enforcement, scammers can be difficult to track and often live far away from the victim making it complicated for law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice. Advances in technology afford scammers more tools to hide their identities or cover their tracks. Using proven tactics, they often utilize high pressure strategies and create a sense of urgency for the victim to act immediately. A tragic example of this is the recent case of Jordan DeMay from Marquette who took his life after he was pressured to send money to scammers under the threat of private photos being leaked to friends, family and others. His family has worked tirelessly with law enforcement to bring the offenders to justice and are an example of the importance of prompt reporting.
Even intelligent, knowledgeable people can be taken advantage of. “My parents were the victims of a scam when I was in college when they received a phone call from an individual that said I was involved in a car crash and the scammer requested money to pay for medical services,” Trooper Tom shares. Though it can happen to anyone, with education, awareness and reporting, individuals can protect themselves and their families. Discussions with teenagers, young adults and elderly family members about these dangers are important ones to have.
The Better Business Bureau offers several tips that can help prevent being taken advantage of: Never send money, in any form, to someone you haven’t met face-to-face.
Avoid clicking on or opening attachments in any unsolicited communications such as emails or text messages.
Do not believe everything you see as logos, fonts and phone numbers can be mimicked.
Double check that your online purchase is secure by ensuring you are purchasing from a legitimate retailer.
Use extreme caution when dealing with anyone you’ve met online. In this case, skepticism is a healthy protective measure.
Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited.
Resist the pressure to act immediately and take your time to investigate anything that doesn’t seem legitimate.
Use secure and traceable transactions. Whenever possible, work with local businesses.
Be cautious about what you share on social media. Check your privacy settings and consider connecting only with people you personally know.
Trooper Tom is passionate about helping to protect the communities he serves and encourages community members to reach out to him for more information. “If you want to chat more about this, I’d be happy to accommodate that request and if any community organization would like a presentation on scams, I’d be happy to help.” He can be reached at (906) 285-2750.
