Tag Archives: Scams

Covid-19: What To Know About Fake Vaccines Being Sold Online (WSJ Video)

As Covid-19 vaccines roll out in several countries, counterfeits are being marketed online. WSJ explains how phony vaccines end up on the internet and the risks for people who buy them. Illustration: Crystal Tai

Crime: Delivery Scams Imitating Amazon, UPS, FedEX & DHL On The Rise

As online shopping sees its biggest holiday season ever, hackers are sending fake delivery notices impersonating Amazon, UPS and FedEx, with scams up 72% from last year and 440% from October to November. Clicking a fake shipping notification link can launch ransomware or launch a counterfeit branded site to trick users into entering credit card and personal information to “reroute” a package that never existed.

Crime: “Social Security Administration Scams” Are #1 Fraud Reported To FTC

From an FTC online release:

FTC LogoThe Social Security Administration (SSA) scam is the number one scam reported to the FTC right now.

As soon as a caller threatens you, or demands you pay them with a gift card or by wiring money.  It’s a scam. Even if the caller ID tells you otherwise.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, hang up the phone and remember:

  • Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended.
  • The real Social Security Administration will never call to threaten your benefits.
  • The real SSA will never tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on a gift card.

 

To read more: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/12/getting-bombarded-scam-calls-youre-not-alone?utm_source=govdelivery

Crime And The Elderly: “The $340,000 Robocall Scam” (WSJ Podcast)

It started with a phone call. In a week, a scammer would take Nina Belis’s life savings. WSJ’s Sarah Krouse explains why robocalls persist: Because sometimes they work.

Website: https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/the-journal