A recent social media post from the Sanford Police Department shared information on some of the scam reports received last month. The department pointed out that scammers don’t always sound suspicious. Sometimes they sound caring, official, helpful — or frightening.
One resident lost $1,000 after someone they believed they knew asked for help with rent and requested Apple gift cards. Another resident received a call claiming there was a warrant for their arrest. In a separate case, someone demanded $4,000 and threatened a resident and their family if they didn’t pay. In another incident, a resident was falsely accused of money laundering by someone who claimed to represent a federal agency and cited sensitive personal information, including the resident’s Social Security number. Another person wisely chose not to respond when a stranger invited them to a Facebook stock discussion group and began asking personal questions.
These reports involved several common scams:
- Romance and gift card scams
- Government and law enforcement impersonation
- Extortion and threatening messages
- Identity theft
- Social media investment scams
SPD reminds residents that no legitimate government agency will ask you to pay a fine or clear a warrant with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a payment app. If someone demands money, pressures you to act immediately, or tells you to keep the situation secret, stop and check with someone you trust.
Never share gift card numbers, Social Security numbers, banking information, passwords, or verification codes with an unexpected caller or online contact. If someone threatens you, save the messages, block the number, and contact law enforcement. Call 911 if you believe anyone is in immediate danger.
If your personal information has been exposed, contact your bank and credit card companies and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit reports.
Scams can happen to anyone, and there is no shame in asking for help. A quick conversation with a family member, friend, bank employee or local law enforcement agency could prevent financial loss.
Check in with those you care about and share this information. That conversation may be exactly what someone needs.
The post Common Scam Tactics and How to Guard Against Them appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
