Don’t fall victim to fake text messages. Better Business Office It warns users that scammers have recently used a new method to trick you into sending money.
The video above is from a previous report: My mother falls victim to a phone hijacking after the caller falsely claims to have kidnapped his son.
Scammers have always used social media to impersonate people you know and trust, but now they’ve been spoofing caller IDs. This scam can be hard to spot at first glance, so watch out for warning signs.
How does the scam work? You receive a text message from “Mom” or “Dad” telling them they are in the store, but that they left their credit card at home by accident. Can you send $150?
The request seems harmless, but don’t do it!
Scammers rely on the fact that most people have “dad” or “mom” saved in their contacts and we hope you don’t think twice before sending help. If you transfer money to a bank account or digital wallet, your money will be gone forever.
Anything unusual in the message should be watched, the BBB said, as a red flag. If your parents never texted, they probably aren’t texting now. On the other hand, if they text all the time but never ask for money, you are probably dealing with an impersonator.
Search for a new thread. If you text your parents on a regular basis, you should be able to see past messages from them. If you do not see any of the previous messages, it is possible that a scammer is contacting you for the first time.
Double check the sender’s information. Click Sender Information to make sure the name matches your real parents’ phone number.
If you are the victim of a scam, report it BBB Cheating Tracker. By reporting your experience, you can help others avoid falling for the same scam.
See also:
Copyright © 2022 KTRK-TV. All rights reserved.
.
[ad_2]
