Top Scams to Avoid in 2020
By Timothy Tibbetts |
Anyone who has ever watched Shark Tank has heard the pitches where the person explains how much money is spent in their industry every year. So, here's a stat you don't often hear about - Cybercrime is expected to generate 2 trillion dollars this year as mobile scams continue to increase. Here's a list of what to watch out for this year.
Current estimates say that 40% of victims are now between the ages of 20-29, so don't believe that only the elderly fall for these scams.
The Better Business Bureau is usually tracking over 150,000 scams at any one time. In this article, we'll look at general and specific scam types. At MajorGeeks, our emails have been in the wild since 2001, so it's fair to see we get every email scam known to man. Some of these we will show you in the photos below.
Coronavirus
We can't have a list of scams without mentioning Coronavirus. And it's everywhere. Masks, hand sanitizer, and too many other scams and fake news to even begin with. The scammers come out for any disaster, and COVID-19 is no exception. They will use email and social media, mostly. Don't click links in emails, and be wary of Facebook ads. Speaking of Facebook...
Facebook
Facebook is the third-largest website on the internet, but you'd be hard-pressed to find more suckers than any other site ever created. And, they love to share scams. The offers are as old as Ray-Ban sales to free Jet Blue flights for everyone. As an example, here are two of the responses I received from "friends" when pointing out their post was a scam. The first was "my page, my content," and the second was "just in case." Like many scams, these are almost always easily identifiable because the links don't go to an official page.
Scammers have gotten smart and will often create a fan page that has a familiar-looking name. For example, JetBlue might appear as the scam JetBlueAirlines. Much like Craigslist, we now have Facebook Marketplace. Some of the scams listed here are used in the Marketplace.
Airbnb and Rentals
Airbnb Scams involves someone spoofing (creating a fake page) your home for rent and redirecting potential renters to a phony website for payment. Prospective renters should be careful; don't leave the Airbnb website and read reviews. Homes for rent with no reviews could be legit but proceed cautiously. Many of the same scams are used in all areas of real estate.
Apple Tech Support
We have to admit. We were impressed when we saw a phone number we didn't recognize, and a quick Google search revealed the phone number was the official Apple tech support phone number. Apple has no reason to call you. Don't answer.
Occasionally you might get a popup on a website as well saying your phone has been locked. Typically, the criminals here want you to either enroll in a paid service or send malware to your phone.
Banking Apps
Fake banking apps exist and can take everything you have. Consider this - 58% of respondents thought that an official mobile banking app was fraudulent, while 36% of respondents believed a fraudulent app was an official one. In the U.S., 40% confused an official app with a fake one, while 42% thought a counterfeit app was the real thing. Many of these apps come as malware on popular apps, including solitaire and flashlight apps. Once you use the app, it overlays your current banking app, so you won't even know you're using a fake banking app. Brilliant.
Can You Hear Me - Yes
One of the least seen scams is when someone calls you and asks if you can hear them. They will record your voice when you say yes to attempt to use your voice to authorize purchases. We don't understand this scam as the BBB Scam Tracker has no reports of lost money using this trick.
CIA
Another extortion scheme is someone claiming to be from the CIA. This one claims they will arrest you if you don't pay up with Bitcoin. The latest we received was sent from .ga, so most likely Africa.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency scams have grown over the years. The scams range from pump and dump, fake ICO, fake profiles, and fake wallets. Cryptocurrency is the wild west of the internet, and often you have no recourse. While people who dabble in cryptocurrency tend to be savvy users, ask any of them about security. Check out this story about two guys who scammed 32 million.
Death Threats
Death threat hoaxes are aggressive and often claim that they or a hired hitman is going to kill you. This scam looks for bitcoin or money to "call off the hit."
Fortnite and Games
If it's popular, it's a target. Fortnite is a worldwide phenomenon, and people are always trying to trick people into purchasing discounted V-bucks, or even free V-bucks. Many games are now "play to win" and people spend billions on "free" games. Make sure you know what you buy and from whom.
Gift Cards
We've seen many gift card scams this year. Locally, we just had someone fall for purchasing $2,000 worth of gift cards. This person went to numerous stores before they because "suspicious." And they worked for US Business Funding. In a similar case, someone was emailed an overdue bill from FPL (Florida Power & Light) and was called asking the victim to purchase gift cards to pay the bill. Pretty slick. Once they bought the cards, the criminal called back and retrieved the numbers. This person "wised up" after giving the gift card numbers out. We're unaware of any legitimate company that accepts gift cards as payment.
Recently, after returning from Walgreens, CVS, or Maybe Kinneys (they all look the same to me), I returned home to find emails telling me I had a Walgreens and CVS gift card just waiting for me. All the scammers need is a little luck and some timing.
Girls, Girls, Girls
Where to begin? We've seen every possible email from girls who want to meet and sometimes two or three girls! The scam must work because the emails keep coming. While writing this guide, we received one of these emails. You can expect names like nastygirl or jasmine so that no matter what you like, the name fits. In the email, we just received nastygirl was the nice girl, and jasmine was the naughty girl. I'm confused.
Clicking on the email revealed a tracker to let them know you clicked on that email. Once on the website, we had to fill out some basic details. Clicking on the email pictures a second time took us to a different site with a similar theme. And, big shock, someone wants to meet me! Minutes later someone from my town wanted to meet me too! Wait, here come the emails. More girls! And so the game (scam) begins.
This is a standard phishing scheme and probably more when these hot girls need your "help." The original sending website does not exist and is used just to send emails.
Google Verification
If you advertised an item for sale, you might get an interested party telling you they're interested, and they need you to click a link. They are using you to set up a new Google Voice number using your phone number. We always tell people that the item is cash and pick up only. Note that most Craiglist scams stand out in how they respond. They will usually copy and paste your exact title and text and ask if "the exact title of your item" is still for sale. Ignore these.
Grandparents
One of the scams taking advantage of the elderly is a phone call claiming to be a grandson or granddaughter. They tend to be vague on details but ask for money for a hospital, traffic ticket, or almost anything that seems urgent. They will usually try to keep them on the phone until paid while also telling the victim not to tell mom and dad because that would give them away.
Home Improvement
Home improvement scams can be anywhere, including door-to-door. There are too many ways to check into contractors to hire someone who came to you. The Next Door app is excellent for referrals in your community. We've done well using Next Door. You can also look at contractors at the BBB website.
Instagram Ads
Social media marketing is huge. This means the scammers are there as well trying to fake you into buying products that look real or are knock offs. If in doubt, click on the user's profile and about to see how long they've been around, other ads they may be running, and more. Advertisements can also be reported.
IRS
IRS scams increased by 60% in 2018. They can be phone calls or emails. These calls increase during the summer and are usually threats to arrest you if you don't pay. The IRS does not call, nor do they leave messages. IRS scams have expanded with tax prepares being targeted. Claiming to be from tech support is another IRS twist.
Jury Duty
Jury duty scams are designed to trick you into paying a fine for not appearing for jury duty. They do an excellent job of spoofing phone numbers and names to look legitimate. Don't bother; they would never email you.
Medicare Cards
The Federal Government has added a layer of security to Medicare cards by assigning new 11-digit identification numbers instead of social security numbers. Naturally, scammers have changed gears and will try to get your 11-digit ID any way they can. They typically do this by phone. The average loss per person with this scam is $36,000.
Microsoft Windows or Office Tech Support
A lot of people receive calls from someone claiming to be from Microsoft tech support and that your PC has a problem. The goal here is to gain remote access to your computer and lock it down until paid, or sometimes merely demand money, often more than your computer is worth, to solve a non-existent problem.
These people, like many scammers, can be relentless. One time, a friend handed us their phone, and it was one of these scammers. We explained that we were a Microsoft MVP, and the computer was fine. He continued his pitch, even when we repeatedly asked him if he knew what a Microsoft MVP was. Eventually, we hung up because the guy was relentless. The gentleman had an Indian accent. Go figure.
Jim on Twitter pointed out that emails are sent that read, "Failure to confirm your mailbox will result in permanent disable." This is a scam to get your email credentials and should be reported to @msftsecurity or phish@office365.microsoft.com
Netflix
The Netflix scam typically has "payment declined" in the email header and wants you to update your information to get your credit card information. The page is bogus, so if in doubt, check your Netflix account by logging in at Netflix.com.
Order Cancelled or Shipping Status
Because of its popularity, Amazon is frequently used for fake order cancellation emails. The goal is to trick you into downloading malware or redirect you to a fake Amazon website and get your Amazon username and password. If unsure, log in to your Amazon account and check your orders.
Similar to this scam is the phony delivery emails where they have a package for you, often with malware attached. They may also provide a link to get your details. They have a package for you, alright.
Porn on Your Computer - Password
We've seen some massive data breaches over the years. Many of these breaches exposed your usernames and passwords. Using these lists, they send out an email claiming to have seen all the dirty pornography on your computer, and if you don't pay up, they will send the video of you to everyone you know. Of course, while it can sound scary, they are assuming your Windows password is the same as a password you frequently use online. The whole premise is flawed, but it works. Ironically, we're yet to see a single password match any password we use.
This email is an indication that you should change your passwords because your information has been leaked.
Some have given up on the password routine and swear they have installed malware to watch you on your webcam. Here is one recent email we received.
Princes, Kings, and Secretary of State
What list would be incomplete without mentioning the millions of dollars to be had if you send a few bucks to process the payment? This is one of the old scams that everyone knows about, but people still fall for it. The latest twist does the same thing except now they claim to be the Secretary of State. Expect other twists to this classic scam as the years go by.
They sometimes claim you've won a prize or lottery and even threaten jail.
Romance Scams
Romance scams can be on a dating website, or anywhere people gather socially, and these scams pulled in 143 million last year alone. These people are in it for the long haul and will spend a lot of time "getting to know you" before asking for money for numerous reasons, including coming to visit you. The gift card scam can be used here as well.
If you want to see how gullible people are, check out the comments in this article on the official FTC website. You won't believe your eyes.
Speaking of "romance," let's not forget those emails from a lonely woman who wants you now — standard phishing scheme. We can't believe this works, but remember, all scams are a numbers game. They might get rejected 100 times, but someone will fall for it.
Social Security
While Social Security scams aren't new, they have gotten more sophisticated. Often you'll receive a call from a local or 1-800 number to let you know that your benefits are at risk, and they need your personal information. This is one of the scams that prey on the elderly. Social Security would typically snail mail you if there were a problem.
Vehicle Purchases
Sometimes a deal is too good to be true. When you see a great deal on a vehicle online, you might ask why the price is so low. Odds are you'll get an explanation as to why with more pictures. Then comes the gift card scam. Once you give them the gift card numbers, you won't hear from them again.
Veterans
Veterans are a proud, loyal club. Sadly, phone calls claiming to offer pension buyouts or donate to charities has made 16% of veterans victims.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, while new ways to scam people come and go, they are after your money and the same dos and don't apply:
Don't click on email links.
Don't answer a phone number you don't recognize.
Don't share giveaways on Facebook or social media unless you're sure it's official.
Don't give any personal information online to anyone, in any way, anywhere.
Do get credit monitoring or check your bank account regularly.
Do dump people you don't know on social media. No one has 5,000 friends.
We'd love to hear from you to help others. If you have any other scams, let us know in the comments section, and we'll update as needed.
comments powered by Disqus
Current estimates say that 40% of victims are now between the ages of 20-29, so don't believe that only the elderly fall for these scams.
The Better Business Bureau is usually tracking over 150,000 scams at any one time. In this article, we'll look at general and specific scam types. At MajorGeeks, our emails have been in the wild since 2001, so it's fair to see we get every email scam known to man. Some of these we will show you in the photos below.
Coronavirus
We can't have a list of scams without mentioning Coronavirus. And it's everywhere. Masks, hand sanitizer, and too many other scams and fake news to even begin with. The scammers come out for any disaster, and COVID-19 is no exception. They will use email and social media, mostly. Don't click links in emails, and be wary of Facebook ads. Speaking of Facebook...
Facebook is the third-largest website on the internet, but you'd be hard-pressed to find more suckers than any other site ever created. And, they love to share scams. The offers are as old as Ray-Ban sales to free Jet Blue flights for everyone. As an example, here are two of the responses I received from "friends" when pointing out their post was a scam. The first was "my page, my content," and the second was "just in case." Like many scams, these are almost always easily identifiable because the links don't go to an official page.
Scammers have gotten smart and will often create a fan page that has a familiar-looking name. For example, JetBlue might appear as the scam JetBlueAirlines. Much like Craigslist, we now have Facebook Marketplace. Some of the scams listed here are used in the Marketplace.
Airbnb and Rentals
Airbnb Scams involves someone spoofing (creating a fake page) your home for rent and redirecting potential renters to a phony website for payment. Prospective renters should be careful; don't leave the Airbnb website and read reviews. Homes for rent with no reviews could be legit but proceed cautiously. Many of the same scams are used in all areas of real estate.
Apple Tech Support
We have to admit. We were impressed when we saw a phone number we didn't recognize, and a quick Google search revealed the phone number was the official Apple tech support phone number. Apple has no reason to call you. Don't answer.
Occasionally you might get a popup on a website as well saying your phone has been locked. Typically, the criminals here want you to either enroll in a paid service or send malware to your phone.
Banking Apps
Fake banking apps exist and can take everything you have. Consider this - 58% of respondents thought that an official mobile banking app was fraudulent, while 36% of respondents believed a fraudulent app was an official one. In the U.S., 40% confused an official app with a fake one, while 42% thought a counterfeit app was the real thing. Many of these apps come as malware on popular apps, including solitaire and flashlight apps. Once you use the app, it overlays your current banking app, so you won't even know you're using a fake banking app. Brilliant.
Can You Hear Me - Yes
One of the least seen scams is when someone calls you and asks if you can hear them. They will record your voice when you say yes to attempt to use your voice to authorize purchases. We don't understand this scam as the BBB Scam Tracker has no reports of lost money using this trick.
CIA
Another extortion scheme is someone claiming to be from the CIA. This one claims they will arrest you if you don't pay up with Bitcoin. The latest we received was sent from .ga, so most likely Africa.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency scams have grown over the years. The scams range from pump and dump, fake ICO, fake profiles, and fake wallets. Cryptocurrency is the wild west of the internet, and often you have no recourse. While people who dabble in cryptocurrency tend to be savvy users, ask any of them about security. Check out this story about two guys who scammed 32 million.
Death Threats
Death threat hoaxes are aggressive and often claim that they or a hired hitman is going to kill you. This scam looks for bitcoin or money to "call off the hit."
Fortnite and Games
If it's popular, it's a target. Fortnite is a worldwide phenomenon, and people are always trying to trick people into purchasing discounted V-bucks, or even free V-bucks. Many games are now "play to win" and people spend billions on "free" games. Make sure you know what you buy and from whom.
Gift Cards
We've seen many gift card scams this year. Locally, we just had someone fall for purchasing $2,000 worth of gift cards. This person went to numerous stores before they because "suspicious." And they worked for US Business Funding. In a similar case, someone was emailed an overdue bill from FPL (Florida Power & Light) and was called asking the victim to purchase gift cards to pay the bill. Pretty slick. Once they bought the cards, the criminal called back and retrieved the numbers. This person "wised up" after giving the gift card numbers out. We're unaware of any legitimate company that accepts gift cards as payment.
Recently, after returning from Walgreens, CVS, or Maybe Kinneys (they all look the same to me), I returned home to find emails telling me I had a Walgreens and CVS gift card just waiting for me. All the scammers need is a little luck and some timing.
Girls, Girls, Girls
Where to begin? We've seen every possible email from girls who want to meet and sometimes two or three girls! The scam must work because the emails keep coming. While writing this guide, we received one of these emails. You can expect names like nastygirl or jasmine so that no matter what you like, the name fits. In the email, we just received nastygirl was the nice girl, and jasmine was the naughty girl. I'm confused.
Clicking on the email revealed a tracker to let them know you clicked on that email. Once on the website, we had to fill out some basic details. Clicking on the email pictures a second time took us to a different site with a similar theme. And, big shock, someone wants to meet me! Minutes later someone from my town wanted to meet me too! Wait, here come the emails. More girls! And so the game (scam) begins.
This is a standard phishing scheme and probably more when these hot girls need your "help." The original sending website does not exist and is used just to send emails.
Google Verification
If you advertised an item for sale, you might get an interested party telling you they're interested, and they need you to click a link. They are using you to set up a new Google Voice number using your phone number. We always tell people that the item is cash and pick up only. Note that most Craiglist scams stand out in how they respond. They will usually copy and paste your exact title and text and ask if "the exact title of your item" is still for sale. Ignore these.
Grandparents
One of the scams taking advantage of the elderly is a phone call claiming to be a grandson or granddaughter. They tend to be vague on details but ask for money for a hospital, traffic ticket, or almost anything that seems urgent. They will usually try to keep them on the phone until paid while also telling the victim not to tell mom and dad because that would give them away.
Home Improvement
Home improvement scams can be anywhere, including door-to-door. There are too many ways to check into contractors to hire someone who came to you. The Next Door app is excellent for referrals in your community. We've done well using Next Door. You can also look at contractors at the BBB website.
Instagram Ads
Social media marketing is huge. This means the scammers are there as well trying to fake you into buying products that look real or are knock offs. If in doubt, click on the user's profile and about to see how long they've been around, other ads they may be running, and more. Advertisements can also be reported.
IRS
IRS scams increased by 60% in 2018. They can be phone calls or emails. These calls increase during the summer and are usually threats to arrest you if you don't pay. The IRS does not call, nor do they leave messages. IRS scams have expanded with tax prepares being targeted. Claiming to be from tech support is another IRS twist.
Jury Duty
Jury duty scams are designed to trick you into paying a fine for not appearing for jury duty. They do an excellent job of spoofing phone numbers and names to look legitimate. Don't bother; they would never email you.
Medicare Cards
The Federal Government has added a layer of security to Medicare cards by assigning new 11-digit identification numbers instead of social security numbers. Naturally, scammers have changed gears and will try to get your 11-digit ID any way they can. They typically do this by phone. The average loss per person with this scam is $36,000.
Microsoft Windows or Office Tech Support
A lot of people receive calls from someone claiming to be from Microsoft tech support and that your PC has a problem. The goal here is to gain remote access to your computer and lock it down until paid, or sometimes merely demand money, often more than your computer is worth, to solve a non-existent problem.
These people, like many scammers, can be relentless. One time, a friend handed us their phone, and it was one of these scammers. We explained that we were a Microsoft MVP, and the computer was fine. He continued his pitch, even when we repeatedly asked him if he knew what a Microsoft MVP was. Eventually, we hung up because the guy was relentless. The gentleman had an Indian accent. Go figure.
Jim on Twitter pointed out that emails are sent that read, "Failure to confirm your mailbox will result in permanent disable." This is a scam to get your email credentials and should be reported to @msftsecurity or phish@office365.microsoft.com
Netflix
The Netflix scam typically has "payment declined" in the email header and wants you to update your information to get your credit card information. The page is bogus, so if in doubt, check your Netflix account by logging in at Netflix.com.
Order Cancelled or Shipping Status
Because of its popularity, Amazon is frequently used for fake order cancellation emails. The goal is to trick you into downloading malware or redirect you to a fake Amazon website and get your Amazon username and password. If unsure, log in to your Amazon account and check your orders.
Similar to this scam is the phony delivery emails where they have a package for you, often with malware attached. They may also provide a link to get your details. They have a package for you, alright.
Porn on Your Computer - Password
We've seen some massive data breaches over the years. Many of these breaches exposed your usernames and passwords. Using these lists, they send out an email claiming to have seen all the dirty pornography on your computer, and if you don't pay up, they will send the video of you to everyone you know. Of course, while it can sound scary, they are assuming your Windows password is the same as a password you frequently use online. The whole premise is flawed, but it works. Ironically, we're yet to see a single password match any password we use.
This email is an indication that you should change your passwords because your information has been leaked.
Some have given up on the password routine and swear they have installed malware to watch you on your webcam. Here is one recent email we received.
Princes, Kings, and Secretary of State
What list would be incomplete without mentioning the millions of dollars to be had if you send a few bucks to process the payment? This is one of the old scams that everyone knows about, but people still fall for it. The latest twist does the same thing except now they claim to be the Secretary of State. Expect other twists to this classic scam as the years go by.
They sometimes claim you've won a prize or lottery and even threaten jail.
Romance Scams
Romance scams can be on a dating website, or anywhere people gather socially, and these scams pulled in 143 million last year alone. These people are in it for the long haul and will spend a lot of time "getting to know you" before asking for money for numerous reasons, including coming to visit you. The gift card scam can be used here as well.
If you want to see how gullible people are, check out the comments in this article on the official FTC website. You won't believe your eyes.
Speaking of "romance," let's not forget those emails from a lonely woman who wants you now — standard phishing scheme. We can't believe this works, but remember, all scams are a numbers game. They might get rejected 100 times, but someone will fall for it.
Social Security
While Social Security scams aren't new, they have gotten more sophisticated. Often you'll receive a call from a local or 1-800 number to let you know that your benefits are at risk, and they need your personal information. This is one of the scams that prey on the elderly. Social Security would typically snail mail you if there were a problem.
Vehicle Purchases
Sometimes a deal is too good to be true. When you see a great deal on a vehicle online, you might ask why the price is so low. Odds are you'll get an explanation as to why with more pictures. Then comes the gift card scam. Once you give them the gift card numbers, you won't hear from them again.
Veterans
Veterans are a proud, loyal club. Sadly, phone calls claiming to offer pension buyouts or donate to charities has made 16% of veterans victims.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, while new ways to scam people come and go, they are after your money and the same dos and don't apply:
Don't click on email links.
Don't answer a phone number you don't recognize.
Don't share giveaways on Facebook or social media unless you're sure it's official.
Don't give any personal information online to anyone, in any way, anywhere.
Do get credit monitoring or check your bank account regularly.
Do dump people you don't know on social media. No one has 5,000 friends.
We'd love to hear from you to help others. If you have any other scams, let us know in the comments section, and we'll update as needed.
comments powered by Disqus
