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
Tag Archives: Scams
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:
The 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
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.