Local authorities are reminding people to stay vigilant in the wake of recent scams.
Earlier this month, two people from Connecticut were arrested and charged with scamming an elderly Woodbridge resident out of $130,000. The scammers told the woman she had won a car and some money, but needed to pay fees to collect the prizes. That led to a year-long situation in which the victim sent the accused perpetrators money. She even set up multiple bank accounts for them, police said.
That’s on top of a recent rise in the number of people receiving phishing text alerts falsely claiming they owe an outstanding toll balance.
And Fairfax County is warning residents of document shredding events that were falsely advertised on a suspicious website. The county is advising residents to “stay vigilant and check the county’s website, social media channels, or confirm with county facilities to make sure an event is legitimate before attending.”
Tips to Avoid Being Scammed
Lt. Jonathan Perok, of the Prince William County police, said in an email that people should follow guidance from the FBI on how to protect yourself against scams.
According to the FBI, older people are a prime target for electronic scamming. Scammer know that seniors are more likely to have savings and own their home, are more trusting, and may not know how to report crimes.
The most important piece of advice? Don’t do anything right away. When you get a text, a phone call, or an email from someone you don’t know, stop and think. “Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action,” the FBI says.
Some scammers pose as family members — sometimes going so far as to use artificial intelligence to re-create a loved one’s voice. So it’s important that you and your family set up a verbal password or code phrase for verification in a real emergency.
Any unsolicited phone calls, emails, or texts should be treated as suspicious, especially if they’re offering you something in exchange for money or financial information. The Virginia Department of Transportation, for example, recently reiterated that they never text people to tell them they owe toll money. Most utility companies and governmental agencies also say they don’t use electronic communication.
Keep your computer’s antivirus and security software up to date. And never click a link or download anything from a text or email you weren’t expecting, or from someone you can’t identify.
If you think you or someone you know is the victim of this kind of scam, you can file a complaint at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Feature image courtesy fizkes/stock.adobe.com
