Yesterday, in honor of National Consumer Protection Week, we highlighted four scams consumers should be aware of in order to keep their money. One way to avoid some of these telephone-based scams is to just avoid picking up the phone at all when receiving calls from certain area codes. [More]
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Maybe Don’t Answer Calls From These Area Codes If You Don’t Want To Be Scammed
By 3.7.17 — Updated: 3.8.17
Man Accused Of Using Phone Dating Services To Scam Women… Again
By 9.12.16
A New Jersey man who was previously convicted of using telephone dating services to scam women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars has been accused of doing pretty much the same thing while he was on probation for the first scheme. [More]
4 Ways To Avoid The “Student Loan Tax” Scam
By 6.6.16
Being on the hook for thousands of dollars in student loan debt is pressure enough for most people. They shouldn’t also have to worry about being taken advantage of by “student loan tax” fraudsters in what appears to be the latest iteration of the IRS impersonation scam. [More]
No, The IRS Will Not Call You To Verify Your Tax Return Information
By 3.14.16
Because trying to steal money from others will never get old for criminals, scammers are constantly changing tacks to come up with new ways to rake in their ill-gotten gains. This tax season, there’s a new trick bedeviling taxpayers over the phone. [More]
IRS: Email, Text Scams Targeting Taxpayers Up 400% This Year
By 2.19.16
It’s tax season, which means it’s the prime time for scammers to crawl out from underneath their scammy rocks and try to nab taxpayers’ personal info. So far, this year’s electronic tax scams are even more prevalent than before, the Internal Revenue Service says, surging 400%. [More]
Protect Your Heart (And Wallet) From These Valentine’s Day Scams
By 2.11.16 — Updated: 2.13.17
This is the year. It’s the year you’ll wake up on Feb. 15 without the stinging sensation of intense regret that inevitably follows after mourning Valentine’s Day at the bottom of a booze bottle, covered in bits of melted chocolate stuck to you in your sleep, because your beloved turned out to be a scammer. Because this year, you’re going to be prepared for any romance scams that may come your way. [More]
4 Things We Learned About Fake Locksmith Scammers Lurking Online
By 2.1.16
The moment you realize you’re locked out of your car or your home is never a good one. But now that everyone is armed with a smartphone, it’s an easy thing to search for a local locksmith on Google and have someone show up to the rescue. But not every listing out there is tied to a legitimate business, as scammy fake locksmith companies are hiding in plain sight, waiting to slam customers with pricy bills for their services. [More]
How To Avoid Becoming A Victim Of A Super Bowl Ticketing Scam
By 1.29.16
Whenever there’s a widely publicized event bringing in people from all over like the Super Bowl, you better believe there will be scammers lurking in the shadows, waiting to prey on those unfortunate souls who desperately want to score a ticket to join the fun. This year’s big game is no different, but there are some things football fans can do to avoid becoming a victim to a scam. [More]
That 40% Off All Kroger Purchases Coupon Circulating On Facebook Is Just A Big Fat Scam
By 12.17.15
File this one under things we’ve said a million times and will say as many times as it takes to keep all shoppers away from scammy things: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is… especially if it’s showing up all over Facebook. So it goes with the most recent coupon scam circulating social media, a fake Kroger coupon offering 40% off all store purchases. [More]
Feds: Hackers Spammed More Than 60 Million People Using Stolen Data
By 12.15.15
Though it seems hard to believe anyone could make money by sending out spammy emails promising enhanced improvement of a certain kind, or fake watches that look like the real thing, there are still those out there willing to give it a go. And according to the U.S. government, three hackers used stolen data to make more than $2 million in illegal profits from a spamming scheme aimed at about 60 million people. [More]
Reminder: There Are No Fees To Claim Your Prize When You Win The Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes
By 11.23.15
The day has finally come — you’ve won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes! At least, that’s what the guy on the phone is telling you. But don’t send your thanks to the ghost of Ed McMahon just yet: if someone is telling you to fork over huge wads of cash in order to claim your prize from PCH, it’s a scam and you should hang up the phone and start hoping anew. [More]
Group Must Pay $700K Penalty For Allegedly Profiting From ‘Charity’ Donation Bins
By 10.29.15
How do you turn a charitable donation into a scam? Take the donated item and sell it for a profit, instead of giving it to the needy. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said his office has reached a settlement with a for-profit company accused of doing just that, by way of more than 1,100 clothing donation bins scattered throughout the New York City area. [More]
No, You Aren’t Going To Win An Audi Or A Diamond Ring Just By Liking & Sharing A Post On Facebook
By 9.9.15
Although you might be suspicious that something sounds too good to be true, not every scam you come across on the Internet will immediately set off alarm bells. After all, what’s the worst that could come from liking and sharing a post on Facebook, beyond the fact that a new Audi R8 V8 or a diamond ring from Tiffany & Co. won’t become yours? Some scams exist (and thrive) just to get those valuable likes and shares, and gain an audience for future scams. [More]
AAA: E-ZPass Users Targeted By Phishing Scam Demanding Money For Unpaid Tolls
By 8.18.15
Scammers can be tricky to identify, but when they target the experts, it makes spotting fakes a lot easier: AAA is warning E-ZPass users of a phishing scam circulating around right now demanding money for unpaid tolls, after one of its own pros received a suspicious email. [More]
Publix Coupon Promising $100 Worth Of Free Stuff Is (Gasp!) A Scam
By 7.13.15
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it probably a bajillion times more: If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So it goes with a recent fake coupon circulating in the Internet for $100 off a purchase of $120 or more at Publix. The company says it’s not giving away free stuff, and advises customers not to engage with the fake coupon or give out any personal information. [Publix on Facebook] [More]
Police Chief Totally Messes With Phone Scammer Telling Him He’s Won $7K From The Government
By 6.12.15
A scammer peddling magical $7,000 rewards from the government chose the wrong person to try to dupe: A police chief in Indiana filmed his phone on speaker while a stranger explained to him that yes, the government does just give people “free grant money” for no reason, and that he could get his money at Western Union. [More]
FTC Orders Company That Swindled Tens Of Millions From Seniors To Pay $10M Judgment
By 3.12.15
We’ve said it too many times to count at this point, but scammers who take advantage of senior citizens are the worst. Today, the Federal Trade Commission made sure there was one less scammer out there by permanently barring the mastermind behind a multi-million dollar fraud from all future telemarketing activities. [More]
Woman Accused Of Faking Cancer To Get Donations Arrested On Her Way To Film TV Show
By 8.19.14
An Illinois woman who’s been accused of pretending both she and her son have cancer in order to scam people out of money was reportedly on her way to film an interview for the Dr. Phil show when cops caught up with her, warrant in hand. [More]
