By Koy Flores
WKTV Contributor
The internet has forever altered the flow of information on a global scale. We can pay homage to our ancestors who sent messages in bottles and men on camelbacks, but digital communication has changed the way humans interact for good.
That is not to say the evolution of the internet has been consistently humanitarian because, like a thief with a mask, phishers hide behind falsified identities of companies you know.
The evolution of phishing
Consumers Energy recently alerted customers to be on guard against a new scam threatening service shut off unless immediate payment is made. Through email and phone calls, scammers are spoofing company phone numbers and telling customers they need to pay a balance immediately, insisting payment be made via prepaid debit cards or gift cards.
“We know most people are careful not to give their money and personal information to strangers, but we want to make sure they’re alert of these criminals who are persistent and determined to con people out of their earnings,” said Jim Beechey, Consumers Energy’s Vice President of Information Technology and Security.
Everyone with a telephone or email address has likely been contacted by a phisher at some point. The scary part is, through the use of data breaches and social media stalking, many of these fraudulent messages actually contain true information. One key to recognizing a phishing attempt is the use of out-of-date information (ex: use a maiden name or an address from five years ago).
“These fraudsters are great at staying on top of the latest products, trends and technologies in order to find a way to steal money, confidential financial information or both,” said Nakia Mills, Vice President of Digital Marketing and Brand Strategy for Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Michigan.
According to BBB’s Scam Tracker Risk Report, the top ten riskiest scam types are:
- Investment/Cryptocurrency
- Employment
- Romance/Friendship
- Online Purchase
- Home Improvement
- Phishing/Social Engineering
- Advance Fee Loan
- Travel/Vacation/Timeshare
- Government Grant
- Tech Support
What is phishing and spoofing?
Phishing is defined as the fraudulent practice of sending emails and messages purporting to be from reputable companies to trick people into revealing their personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
Spoofing is defined as someone disguising an email address, sender name, phone number or website URL – often by changing just one letter, symbol or number – to convince victims that they are interacting with a trusted source.
Phishing schemes will use spoofing techniques to falsify aliases and manipulate unsuspecting customers into giving criminals personal or sensitive information. (fbi.gov)
Warning signs to avoid digital scams
Mills said a recurring tactic of scammers is “relying on the person being targeted to act quickly without thinking or checking facts.”
According to Mills, the top five scam warning signs to watch for when interacting with someone virtually are:
- Offers that appear too good to be true (tickets that are hard to acquire or a holiday toy that is not in stores)
- Someone forcing you to make a quick decision without time to do research or talk about it with others
- Meeting someone online who consistently has an excuse not to meet in person or via videochat
- A request to send money in order to receive money. This includes fake employment, fake government grants, scholarships, etc.
- Insistence on payment in a specific way, especially via a gift card, money order or payment app
When asked about the damage these cons have inflicted on victims and their families, Consumers Energy Spokesperson Brian Wheeler stated that they do not have a metric for how many people have made payments to scammers, but that hundreds of people have been contacted by a spoofer of Consumers Energy.
Different types of scams
Scammers coming to a residence purporting to be a legitimate company official or contractor is a bold ploy used often. Both DTE and Consumers Energy state they will usually notify customers in advance of any such visit, whether through letters, emails or phone calls – but not always.
Beechey recommended asking to see identification badges before allowing contractors into your home. If doubts persist, call the official customer helpline telephone number of the “company” at your door. If they refuse to show identification or become agitated, DTE recommends locking the door and dialing 911.
Also be aware of trickier phone scams.
BBB released an article in 2024 (“Can you hear me?”) informing the public of a quick phone scam that involved callers asking, “Can you hear me?” several times. The goal was to trick people into saying “yes” so the caller could edit the audio and use the victim’s voice to confirm big purchases.
These scams may also be geared toward banking, vacation packages, warranties and even Medicare cards.
Scammers may also contact family members for “verification” of information or may utilize coercion in an attempt to obtain sensitive information. If this happens, BBB recommends hanging up the phone and notifying that family member immediately. (BBB Scam Alert)
“In addition to posing as government officials,” said Mills, “our most recent BBB Scam Tracker report found that the most impersonated organizations were Publishers Clearing House, [the] U.S. Postal Service, PayPal, Amazon and Spectrum.”
Take action
If you receive malicious looking emails, the BBB says to avoid clicking on links or replying. Instead, report it to your local BBB.
If you made a payment to Consumers Energy and think you are a victim of a scam, call 800-477-5050. Those who did not make a payment but believe they are a victim of a scam must file a police report with local law enforcement.
Visit BBB: Scam Tracker to look up and/or report potential scams.
