Tag Archives: scams

Phishing tactics are evolving – here’s how to identify spoofs and scams

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Crime Prevention, Hard News, How-To's, Tech Trends, , , , , , , ,
Like a thief with a mask, phishers hide behind falsified identities of well-known companies (Courtesy, Mohamed Hassan/pxhere.com)


By Koy Flores

WKTV Contributor

deborah@wktv.org


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.

Scammers stay on top of the latest products, trends and technologies in order to steal money and/or confidential information (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

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 One key to recognizing a phishing attempt is the use of out-of-date information (ex: use a maiden name or an address from five years ago).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.

Encountering spoofing and phishing schemes are common in this digital age (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

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.
 

Legitimate websites can be impersonated as part of a scammer’s scheme (Courtesy, U.S. Army)

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.

Be sure to report scams and scam attempts to prevent others from becoming victims (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

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.

Scam ads prey on patients seeking mental health treatment through local Pine Rest organization

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Going Local, Hard News, Health, How-To's, Kent County, Local Business, Newscast, West Michigan, , , , , , ,
Those seeking mental health and/or substance abuse treatment are being targeted with fraudulent scam ads, delaying needed care (Courtesy, U.S. Army)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Pine Rest issues warning about fraudulent online ads (Courtesy photo)

People searching online for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services on their mobile devices are encountering fraudulent third-party organizations instead of the Pine Rest organization.

“Third-party organizations, using carefully crafted language to present themselves as affiliates of Pine Rest, appear near the top of search results and fraudulently claim they can assist individuals with placement in our services,” states a recent Pine Rest press release.

Attorney General Dana Nessel also issued a warning statement that the phone number found online may not actually connect them to Pine Rest.

“This appears to be a cruel scheme targeting those suffering from substance abuse disorder, striking treatment-seeking victims in a moment of courage, when they’ve finally sought professional help,” said Nessel.

Preying on the vulnerable

It is crucial to ensure those seeking help receive the correct care (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Pine Rest is a mental health care service provider for West Michigan. Located on the south side of Grand Rapids, Pine Rest is known for their variety of mental health services.

Susan Langeland, Vice President of Continuum Development and Chief Information Officer for Pine Rest, said the fraudulent ads are taking advantage of very vulnerable people in a moment of crisis.

“When people think about seeking care, they mull it over, it takes them many times to actually pick up that phone to call for treatment,” said Langeland. “So when they do, we want to make sure that we get them connected to the right treatment, not being sent out of state and potentially delaying care this person desperately needs.”

Legitimacy of ads

The fraudulent ads use carefully crafted words to appear like a legitimate health care organization. When someone searching for care calls the number provided, scammers identify themselves as a Pine Rest clinician or hospital admissions for an affiliate organization.

“None of that is true,” said Langeland. “We have our own admissions department right there at Pine Rest campus on the south side of Grand Rapids. They are all employed by Pine Rest. We don’t use brokerage or placement firms.”

Pine Rest does not use brokerage or placement firms (Courtesy photo)

Many patients have been diverted out of state for potential treatment. While the locations given are actual treatment facilities, that does not mean patients are receiving the care they need.

“What we hear back from some of these patients is that they are actual locations,” said Langeland. “But as to what their treatment is, and what that looks like, and how that quality of care is, I can’t speak to any of that. We don’t know anybody at any of the locations that our patients have brought back to us.”

Fraudulent scam impact

Langeland went on to say that Pine Rest has no way of knowing how many people have been impacted by these scams.

“We’re reliant on people to let us know,” Langeland said. “Some people reach out right away and say, ‘That was really weird interaction with you,’ and file a formal complaint. Others just go about their day-to-day, and we don’t know.”

Fear of judgment can stop people from coming forward with their scam experiences (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

The authorities and Attorney General are working with Pine Rest to gather information regarding the scam ads. However, some patients who issued complaints do not want to be part of the investigation due to fear of judgment.

“Unfortunately, we still have stigma,” said Langeland, adding that it is hard for some people to trust that the system is going to take care of the issue, and that there is no stigma attached.

The patients who have agreed to participate in the investigation do so because they don’t want anyone else to fall victim to the scams.

“Their experience was not one that they enjoyed, and they don’t want this to happen to anyone else in a moment when they are trying to seek help,” said Langeland.

How to avoid scam ads

Go directly to a company’s website instead of clicking on a sponsored ad (Courtesy photo)

When people seek substance use care in a moment of crisis, Langeland said, they are using their phones quickly, getting online and searching Pine Rest. “And these sponsored ads would come up that look like Pine Rest.”

In a moment of crisis, that person does not look for details on a sponsored ad to ensure it is legitimate. They simply click on the link that looks like it will lead them to the resources they need.

Pine Rest stresses the importance of going to an organization’s website, making sure you talk to someone from the organization, and being conscious of what information you are giving out over the phone so you are not taken advantage of.

Pine Rest is working with their legal team and law enforcement to figure out options regarding the scams.

Though Pine Rest has no control over sponsored ads, Langeland hopes authorities will find a way to restrict the scammers from claiming to be Pine Rest or affiliated with Pine Rest.

Pine Rest availability

Pine Rest does have openings for people seeking substance use and mental health services.

“When people say we don’t have any availability, that is not actually the case,” said Langeland.


Pine Rest does have availability and is ready to help those seeking care (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Pine Rest resources/contact information

All contact information for Pine Rest services can be found on their website.

Individuals seeking mental health and/or addiction services may also reach Pine Rest by phone:

 

FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE 24/7: 616-455-5000 or toll-free at 800-678-5500

FOR OUTPATIENT ASSISTANCE (Standard Business Hours): 866-852-4001

Creative scams target holiday shoppers: What you need to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Crime Prevention, Finances, Hard News, How-To's, , , ,
Even legitimate websites can be impersonated as part of a scammer’s scheme (Courtesy, U.S. Army)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

The online culture has opened doors for scam artists (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

In a culture revolving around online and media consumption, local law enforcement and government agencies are working to educate consumers on current scams and how to protect themselves from becoming victims.

Katie Grevious, Better Business Bureau Communications Specialist, told WKTV that falling victim to a scam has become more difficult to avoid as “scammers are becoming more crafty and creative.”

Grevious said that scammers use fear and a sense of urgency to prompt consumers into following their directives: “It is an emotional situation. Something is wrong, something bad is going to happen — that’s what gets people.”

Due to the number of consumers who now shop online, there are ample opportunities for scam artists to create situations involving that emotional response of fear and urgency.

An online society

QR codes boomed in 2020 as consumers needed quick and easy ways to function without physical contact during the pandemic.

QR codes can be used in a multitude of ways (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Now, in 2023, QR codes seem to be everywhere.

“About 94 million U.S. consumers will use smartphone or QR scanners this year,” said a projection by eMarketer. “That number will grow to 102.6 million by 2026.

A consumer alert posted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Dec. 6 warn consumers of this threat.

Access to menus at restaurants, payment for public parking, boarding a flight, or gaining access to a concert or sporting event are only a few ways QR codes are used. With countless other ways to use these codes, scammers have begun hiding harmful links within QR codes to steal personal information.

QR codes are convenient, but can be utilized by con artists (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

These scam links can take you to a site that looks real but is not, allowing scammers to steal information as you log in, or install malware that steals your information.

Covering up QR codes on parking meters with a custom made QR code is another way scammers con the average consumer.

Texting or emailing a QR code with a reason you should scan it is another. These texts and emails create the sense of urgency mentioned above as they:

  1. Say they could not deliver a package and need you to contact them to reschedule.
  2. Ask you to confirm personal information because there is a problem with your account.
  3. Say there is suspicious activity on your account and you need to change your password via the attached QR code.

What you can do

Inspect URLs before you open them. If it is one you think you recognize, double-check there are no misspellings or switched letters.

If you think the message is legitimate, use a phone number or website you know is sound to contact the company as opposed to using the QR code.

Update phone operating systems to protect against hackers, and use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to protect online accounts.

Preying on gift card buyers

Look for signs of tampering before purchasing gift cards (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Copying gift card numbers and their activation codes from where they are kept in stores is a common and simple method of thievery. Once that gift card is bought and activated by an unsuspecting consumer, the fraudster is able to use that card for purchases.

Purchasing gift cards that are kept near checkout lanes where they are more easily seen, and ensuring the cardboard surrounding the gift card has not been tampered with in any way, are ways to protect against this.

Gift cards are used by scammers in a number of other ways as well. Information regarding these scams can be found here.

Porch pirates, phishing, and more

“Phishing emails and phishing texts are still high on the radar,” Keith Morgan, President and CEO of Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, told WKTV.

Phishing, defined as the fraudulent practice of sending messages designed to trick individuals into revealing personal information, is one of the most common conduits for fraud.

Grevious urges consumers to avoid emails that tell you to re-log into another account you may have, and offer a link to do so. Social media site names are regularly utilized for this scam, and are often ploys that will reveal your password to the sender.

Gaining access to one account can possibly grant scammers access to more (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“Your Facebook password may offer a clue on how to get into more important accounts — like bank accounts,” said Grevious.

“People have a lot of similar passwords because it’s too hard to remember 200 different passwords to everything.”

An online scam could also be as simple as clicking on a link to track an order. Scam artists often use the names of larger corporations to send emails offering a link to track an order the consumer may not remember placing.

Grevious urges consumers to hover their computer mouse over the link, which will reveal a bar that states where it will actually take you. Hovering over the sender’s name to see the email address associated with that email is also a good idea. If it is a jumble of letters and numbers, it is not legitimate.

Also look at the browser — if there is a lock symbol and “https” listed there, it means it is a secure and authentic site.

“It is really important that people are vigilant all the time,” said Grevious. “Look for simple grammar and spelling mistakes. Big companies make sure everything is spelled correctly.”

Fraud can be in many forms, online and off (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Fake deliveries are another popular scam.

“If someone says they dropped something off, or was sent to the wrong place, and want to confirm that it was sent to the right place [is a red flag],” said Morgan, adding that they will then try to get you to enter personal information.

Porch pirate thefts are a non internet-based scam that involves stealing delivered packages off residential and business porches.

Cameras at the front of the house or business can protect against thefts. Another option is to have packages delivered to a safe and secure place as opposed to the porch.

“Sometimes homeowners will have packages delivered to the side of the house if they are not going to be there,” said Morgan. “Some organizations with delivery services will allow you to have it delivered while you are at home so you know it gets there.”

Eliminate hurry, double-check sources

(Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Slowing down is also key to ensuring consumers don’t miss something important.

“Think before you act,” Grevious said. “Our culture has a quick-go pace. We do a lot on our phones, so we don’t do that double-checking and hovering. “You are in control of your information and who you are talking to. Think before you act.”

Consumers are also urged to speak up if they become victims of a scam.

“The more people let us know what is happening, the more we can help,” said Grevious.

Resources and Fraud Report Links:

Better Business Bureau consumer resources, scam tracking, scam alert and how to spot a scam email.

Identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission: Identity Theft.

Phone scams: Report Fraud.

Tax scams or relating to the IRS: IRS.

Tips on how to avoid online scammers

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Hard News, Holidays, How-To's, ,

By Tessa Schulz
WKTV Contributor

‘Tis the season to watch out for holiday scammers. With the holidays fast approaching beware of any deals that appear too good to be true. Scams create the illusion of being trustworthy on the outside yet are a façade fooling consumers into sharing personal information and sending money.

Scammers are looking for all kinds of way to trick you out of your money. (WKTV/Tessa Schultz)

Scams can come in many shapes and sizes, yet they aren’t the gift you’d like this holiday season. Scams can appear blatantly obvious or they can be concealed from what seem to be reputable sources.

Some of the biggest online shops have had scammers impersonating the organization. Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, and your local department stores all have scammers lurking around impersonating trustworthy transactions and tricking consumers.

Scam Data

Federal Trade Commission data reports that in 2021 online shopping scams contained $3.92 million in total reported losses with the median loss for consumers was $500 dollars.

Shoppers that have fallen victim to questionable purchases are not always compensated for their financial losses. According to the FTC, 25% of 2021 consumers reported a loss to fraud.

Types of Scams

Some of the most common scams are internet auction fraud, phishing, order confirmation scams, and technical support scams.

Internet auction fraud occurs when a seller misrepresents merchandise online. In many cases, items are left undelivered, with the buyer at a loss for their money. Scammers may advertise items with outrageous deals and discounts swindling shoppers into franticly buying nonexistent listings. Eventually, shoppers are met with remorse when their item never arrives on their doorstep.

 

Phishing is a scam where fake emails, text messages, and websites are used to commit identity theft or steal personal information. The criminal may ask personal questions fishing around and urging you to share your bank account numbers, debit card pin, or other personal information. Typically a scammer’s contact information mimics the names of larger brands hustling shoppers into trusting and handing out their personal information.

Order confirmation scams provide unwarranted emails, texts, and phone calls claiming that you need to confirm or deny unauthorized purchases. Amazon recently published a memo warning customers of scammers mimicking counterfeit transactions and seeking personal information. Panic-stricken shoppers may rush in order to cancel fake purchases when in reality they are being conned.

 

A technical support scam is a type of fraud where a scammer insists that you need to buy tech support for your devices.

Data breaches can occur to those who download software on their devices. Sensitive information can be stolen, hacked into, and leaked.

Malware is online software containing viruses and spyware. Malware is often undetectable and is a large threat to your online security. 

Tips to Avoid Scams

Always use direct websites when seeking customer service and tech support.

Do not react to scams based on the principle of urgency. Many scammers want you to feel the need to “act now.”

In no case should you provide payment, or bank account information, install software, or purchase gift cards when prompted to respond in an urgent nature.

Be cautious when providing any personal information including account numbers and passwords when completing purchases online or on the telephone. Contacting customer service with any questions regarding transactions may ensure safe shopping.

Santa and his reindeer want you to steer clear of holiday scams this year, be sure to travel with ease online to protect your wallet this season.

Writer, others share real life stories to raise awareness of current scams to warn readers

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Hard News, Non-Profits, Our Cities, WKTV Projects,
Even legitimate websites can be impersonated as part of a scammer’s scheme. (U.S. Army)

By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer

ken@wktv.org

Encountering email and phone scams has become a common nuisance in recent years, even more so as we become more online- and internet-focused as a culture. It is not unusual for consumers to discover a fraudulent email in their personal and business accounts every day as scam artists attempt to cheat them out of money or information.

When this WKTV writer was asked to research an article on prevalent scams in the community, I was suddenly inundated with stories of those who had become victims of scams. Some escaped unscathed, others did not.

WKTV recognizes the importance of community members being aware of current scams so they can protect themselves against becoming victims, and has compiled several personal narratives, from this writer as well as other residents, to raise that awareness. (Names have been changed to protect the victim’s identity.)

Seeing red flags in emails

Within the space of a few days, my personal email account received a message with the heading, “Happy New Year – Your Order ID#740217.” It did not specify what company I supposedly ordered from, but did contain the message, “This message is from a trusted sender.” The body of the email contained two links. One labeled, “You have won!! Gift inside.” The other, “Go Here.”

It immediately raised red flags as I didn’t remember ordering anything recently, and the email didn’t specify the sender. The line about it being from a trusted sender, however, made me pause for just a moment and consider that it might be legitimate — and that is what scammers are hoping for.

(Michigan Attorney General)

Next came an email titled: “Re: (smiling emoji) Your Package delivery notification ID#87946477.” Supposedly, this email was sent by USPS. However, I couldn’t see the United States Postal Service using emojis in their emails, and when I noticed that the email address the message originated from was indecipherable, it became obvious that it was a scam.

Some are harder to discern. The next email seemed to legitimately come from Best Buy, an electronics retailer. The sender was listed as Bestbuy.com, which made sense. The heading was: “Your Order #502-20201222—is still awaiting instructions!” It then instructed me to track the status of the order by clicking on the link offered.

There weren’t any misspellings or emojis to make me think twice about the validity of the sender. What did make me think twice was that I hadn’t ordered anything from Best Buy in years.

After a closer look at the email — which looked alarmingly similar to many invoices received from other online orders placed — I noticed that listed under Order Details was another listing of an order number. This one, however, contained a lowercase ‘n’ and then the degree symbol before listing the number, and ended with a right parenthesis. Those small mistakes reassured me that the email was a scam. A company as large as Best Buy would make sure those mistakes were nonexistent.

Another email appeared to be from a friend, but the sender’s email address did not match her true email address. Another claimed to be from Quicken Loans Affiliate attempting to confirm my mortgage savings package (I neither have a mortgage nor have ever used Quicken Loans) but the email address was a random jumble of letters and numbers, not a legitimate address.

Other stories, other scam attempts

We have all received emails that make us think, “Is this legitimate?” What we need to do is slow down and take a closer look before assuming they are real and clicking on links.

While scam artists use email more often than phone calls due to the online nature of our culture, phone calls are still prevalent, especially for elderly community members who may not be quite as media oriented.

Attempting to sell a SLR camera body on Marketplace, Denise was asked if she could chat to an interested buyer via Messenger audio. She agreed and was then asked to ship the camera directly to the buyer’s brother because it was a birthday gift. She was willing to do so. The buyer then asked if she would include a birthday card and a $50 gift card since it would be shipped directly to his brother, and he would not have the opportunity to do so himself; he would then reimburse her for the camera, shipping, and gift card once she showed proof of shipping.

Alarm bells went off in Denise’s head.

The buyer was insistent and talked fast, so she pretended to agree to do as he asked so she could bring the call to an end. When the call finished and Denise had time to organize her thoughts, she realized she would have lost the camera, shipping, and $50 if she had gone along with the man’s request.

Scam artists prey on their victim’s emotions and promote a sense of urgency that is hard to ignore when someone believes a family member is in trouble.

Molly’s father-in-law received a garbled call: “Grandpa, I’m in Atlanta, was in an accident and broke my jaw. I was arrested for being drunk but hadn’t had a drop … will you wire me money for my bail and attorney?”

Thankfully, Molly’s father-in-law suspected fraud and instructed the caller to phone his father, then called Molly and asked her to check with her son to make sure it was fraud and that his grandson truly did not need help.

It was fraudulent.

Amy’s elderly parents experienced the same call and “made it all the way to the bank, where the employee stopped them and explained that they must not make that withdrawal. We figured out that my nephew’s phone had been hacked. He was out of the country on a trip at the time.”

Mark received what appeared to be a legitimate phone call from a scammer who claimed to be from his bank, warning him that a scammer had tried to break into his account.

They asked him to verify his information to make sure everything was okay. The scammers listed his address and phone number (all easily accessed public information) and asked if it was correct. When he replied that it was, they asked, “And I have your social security number on my screen, can you verify that for me, please?” Once the Mark recited his social security number, the scammer said, “Yes, that’s right.”

The victim had just given enough information for the scammers to steal his identity and/or open various accounts in the victim’s name.

“They (the scammers) say it so casually that the victim often doesn’t realize they’ve just given away a vital piece of information to the victim; it almost sounds like the scammer supplied all of their info,” Mark said.

Marci relayed an experience of an elderly woman who received a call that her taxes were late, and her house would be foreclosed on if she didn’t wire funds within the hour. Fearing that she would become homeless, “the woman called a cab and told the driver why she had to hurry. He took her instead to the police department.”

The police handled the matter, and the woman did not lose any money.

What to do, where to for for help

Katie Grevious, Better Business Bureau Communications Specialist, urges residents to slow down and “think before you act.”

Even if you feel a sense of urgency or fear as a result of an email or phone call like the ones listed above, step back, take a deep breath, and search for those clues that will help you know if the message you received is, in fact, legitimate.

If you are unsure of the best way to identify if a message is a scam, visit Better Business Bureau’s website for tips on how to differentiate between authentic and fraudulent communications.

Please report scams to BBB’s scamtracker site: https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker. This allows consumers to know what is happening and protect themselves. It also helps law enforcement and other government agencies like BBB to root out the source of the scam and put a stop to it.

Local law enforcement and BBB share tips on how to recognize scams and how consumers can protect themselves

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Local Business, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Pets/Animals, Senior Living, WKTV Projects,
Every day online users are bombarded with real — and scam — communications. The trick to keeping your money and personal information is knowing the difference. (Pixere.com)

By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer

ken@wktv.org

With email and phone scams on the rise in an ever-increasing online and media culture, local law enforcement and government agencies are working to educate consumers on current scams and how to protect themselves from becoming victims.

Phishing, defined as the fraudulent practice of sending messages designed to trick individuals into revealing personal information, has become one of the main conduits for fraud.

Katie Grevious, Better Business Bureau Communications Specialist, told WKTV that falling victim to a scam has become more difficult to avoid as “scammers are becoming more crafty and creative.” Grevious said that scammers use fear and a sense of urgency to prompt consumers into following their directives: “It is an emotional situation. Something is wrong, something bad is going to happen — that’s what gets people.”

The ongoing pandemic has also played a role in increasing the phishing strategy, with emails offering grants to those out of work and in need of money. In a more general sense, an increasing number of consumers have begun shopping online, providing ample opportunities for scam artists to create situations that involve an emotional response of fear and urgency.

“We don’t see it really slowing down as the pandemic continues and we become more online and internet focused,” Grevious said.

This is the first of two stories on this on this subject; visit here for a story of personal interaction with possible scams.

Online shopping, social media scams

An online scam could also be as simple as clicking on a link to track an order. Scam artists often use the names of larger corporations, such as Amazon, to send emails offering a link to track an order that the consumer may not remember placing.

Grevious urges consumers to hover their computer mouse over the link, which will reveal a bar that states where it will actually take you, and even hover over the sender’s name to see the email address associated with that email. If it is a jumble of letters and numbers instead of, for example, Amazon.com, it is not legitimate. Also look at the browser — if there is a lock symbol and “https” listed there, it means it is a secure and authentic site.

“It is really important that people are vigilant all the time,” said Grevious. “Look for simple grammar and spelling mistakes. Big companies make sure everything is spelled correctly.”

Slowing down is also key to ensuring consumers don’t miss something important.

(Pixere.com)

“Think before you act,” Grevious said. “Our culture has a quick-go pace. We do a lot on our phones, so we don’t do that double-checking and hovering.”

Det. Andrew Tompkins of the Kent County Sherriff’s Office and member of the Metropolitan Fraud and Identity Theft Team agrees: “Good practice is that if you didn’t order anything or didn’t sign up for something, then it’s most likely a scam.”

Grevious also urges consumers to avoid emails that tell you to re-log into another account you may have, such as Facebook, and offer a link to do so in order to complete the instructions given. These are often ploys that will reveal your password to the sender.

“People may think it’s not important if their Facebook or Instagram account gets hacked,” said Grevious, “but a lot of people have a lot of similar passwords because it’s too hard to remember 200 different passwords to everything. Your Facebook password may offer a clue on how to get into more important accounts — like bank accounts.”

Preying on pet, gift card buyers

In 2021, one of the most common phishing scams involved buying pets online.

“People tried to buy pets online because of the pandemic,” Grevious said. “They pay for the pet through payment apps and then find out it’s a scam. The scammers will often use a random address on the website they create, so people assume it’s real. Then they show up at that address to get their animal and it’s not there.”

Buying pets online is also a place to be aware of possible cams. (Kent County District Court historic photo)

Grevious advises seeing the animal you are interested in purchasing in person beforehand, even if it involves traveling. “Legitimate businesses want to know you are a good fit for their animal. They want to see you in person.”

While email scams have become increasingly common, scams involving phone calls are still prevalent and used often in attempts to illicit money from victims.

Det. Tompkins said that one of the most common scams involves cold calls targeting people to send gift cards, claiming they are from various government agencies and that they have a warrant for the arrest of the consumer unless he/she pays to absolve the issue.

“Government agenc(ies) will never ask for gift cards to get you out of legal trouble,” Det. Tompkins said. “No legitimate business is going to ask for gift cards for services.”

Summer and winter have revealed an upward trend in scams as air conditioning and heat are turned on in homes.

“If you pay your electric bill online, and someone calls you saying they are from Consumers Energy and ask you to confirm personal information,” Grevious said, “say you will call them back and call the company from a number you know, like the number provided on the bill.”

Det. Tompkins had similar advice: “Do not give personal information or identifying information out. Don’t call the number that a person provides you over the phone, search the number for that business to call and confirm this is a real interaction.”

Some scams, however, play on the familiar. Det. Tompkins warns residents, especially the elderly, to be careful of scammers who call claiming to be family. “Scammers call elderly pretending to be their grandkids saying they were arrested and need to send money.”

When asked the standard amount lost by individual victims of scams, he said, “The typical amount of loss is under $1,000. But if the scammers target business or subject(s) that are wealthy, then the loss is in the several thousands.”

Grevious reminds consumers to remember that, “you are in control of your information and who you are talking to. Think before you act.”

Consumers are also urged to speak up if they become victims of a scam.

“The more people let us know what is happening, the more we can help,” said Grevious.

Resources and Fraud Report Links:

Better Business Bureau consumer resources and scamtracker site: https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker

https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam

https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-spot-a-scam-email

Identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission: https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/

Phone scams: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/

Tax scams or relating to the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/