“Fraud is the daughter of greed.”
- John Grant
by Luke Schmaltz
The continuous exchange of money for goods and services is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week fact of life. The neurology of commerce pulses onward like the relentless heartbeat of the human race. But, like seagulls swooping down on a fishing boat, like termites eating at the frame of a house, like flies laying eggs in an open wound — the fraudsters and scammers are at work ’round the clock, attempting to gain access to what is yours in order to make it theirs.
As technology becomes more and more sophisticated, so too does the savvy of hackers and scammers. Here are a few of the top signs of trouble which are afoot today.
Job Robbers
Savvy Scammers: Be alert for warning signs of a scam. Rip-off artists are working to access what is yours and make it theirs.
The cruelty of a rip-off artist knows no bounds, and if you think no one would try to scam a person who is simply trying to better their position in life by looking for a job — think again.
This scheme starts with a text message offering the recipient a job with a reputable company. This is typically described as a nonspecific position such as “customer service representative.” The person on the other end will say they saw your profile on a job board such as Indeed or ZipRecruiter.
Once you express interest, they will say the hiring manager will need to interview you via Google Hangouts. During the “hangout” they will inform you that you have been hired and proceed to request personal information for your background check, paycheck direct deposit, etc.
Takeaway: Any job offer which comes to you via text from an unknown person should be considered a scam.
Amazombies
Urgent Amazon Bluff: Be wary of urgent emails, text messages, and phone calla about your Amazon account.
One of the top drivers of perpetual, sleepless commerce is Amazon. The online behemoth of retail owns a massive market share so naturally; Amazon scams are proportionately prevalent. In fact, the top news item in this arena is that Amazon scams are up 500% from last year.
Urgent communications about your Amazon account may arrive via email, text message, or phone call. The text or script will say there is a “problem” and that your account must be verified and the matter is “urgent.”
Clickable links will lead you further into the phishing web, as will calling a phone number provided by the message.
Takeaway: Always access your Amazon account via your device and initiate communication from the website chat or messaging portals. Amazon does not send emails or text message with “click here” prompts.
I’ll Be You
People who post notices online for missing pets, items for sale, or requesting specific makes and models of cars or musical instruments can be targeted by scammers pretending to be on the lookout for fraud.
The person will contact you and express concern that they want to “make sure you’re not a scammer.” In order to proceed, they will then send you a verification code from Google Voice and ask you to read it back to them.
In doing so, they are capturing your unique voice imprint and setting up a Google Voice account in your name so that they can continue to perpetuate what they claimed to be wary of.
Takeaway: Never read back verification codes to anyone over the phone.
The Sky is Falling
Phony Phone Calls: Charlatans ask you to read back verification codes to capture your voice imprint and make it their own.
The rise in extreme weather events and the vigor with which the news reports them has viewers highly attuned to the suffering of others.
Scammers see sympathy as weakness and as soon as a hurricane gets named by the World Meteorological Association, a “relief fund” in its name is poised to be launched the moment the storm makes landfall. The same is true with wildfires, tornadoes, and the typhoons.
Charity organizations and relief efforts are monitored by watchdog groups such as the Better Business Bureau, CharityWatch, and CharityNavigator. If you are contacted and asked to donate, you should first verify the legitimacy of the charity through at least one of these organizations. Also, you can Google the charity’s name followed by the word “scam” and any reports of fraudulent activity will come up.
Takeaway: A legitimate charity will never apply a high-pressure hard sell when asking for a donation.
The Metacurse
The latest trend in digital lifestyles, while buzzing with fascination and excitement, is rampant with new opportunities for scammers looking to swindle distracted, googly-eyed gawkers.
This relatively new construct using headsets, virtual reality, and avatars in place of analog interaction has an “emperor’s new clothes” appeal for fraudsters. The avatars of coworkers, customers, customer service reps, and sales agents can all be easily impersonated by hackers.
Interaction based solely on digital identities places all participants in jeopardy of being easily played.
Takeaway: If it seems too unreal to be true, it probably is.