‘Pig butchering,’ bogus bank calls and other common scams: How to stay safe
The stories are common these days: bank accounts drained, investments evaporated, life savings lost.
Scammers have become a daily threat to anyone with a phone or an inbox, thanks to online tools that give them the ability to target potential victims en masse for free. Cheap technology also enables scammers to make ever-more-convincing impersonations, sometimes even cloning the voices and images of a victim’s relatives to aid in the deception.
The cons may seem novel — involving cryptocurrencies and carrying labels like “pig butchering” — but at the heart, they’re all the same. Scammers find a way to talk you into moving your money from a safe place to their coffers. And then they disappear.
Here is a collection of stories to help you protect yourself against the fraudsters trying to gain your trust.
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Three men from Southern California were among those charged in connection with an investment scam involving more than $80 million in losses, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.
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A new report released by Sen. Elizabeth Warren shows more scammers taking advantage of Zelle users, and that banks often don’t reimburse customer losses.
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Bank impersonations are the top reported type of text message scam. Here are steps to avoid falling victim.
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I was driving when I got a call from a mysterious number. A sobbing child begged for my help. But it wasn’t my kid — it was a scam.
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The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation has compiled a searchable collection of complaints about apparent crypto scams.
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Social media is full of scammers promising guaranteed returns on investment, and consumers lost $3.8 billion to them last year just in the U.S., the FTC said.
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A recent uptick in scams targeting older adults has seniors wondering who’s really calling them. Here’s what to watch out for.
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With job scams on the rise, it’s important to make sure the position you’re applying for on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed is legitimate. Here are tips for spotting a scam.
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Unsolicited COVID-19 tests are being sent to people with Medicare as part of a national scam. What should you do next and what resources are available?
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Online scammers are eager to tap into people’s need for aid as well as their desire to help. Be careful before you reveal sensitive personal information or open your wallet.
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While you’re shopping for gifts and considering Giving Tuesday donations, bear in mind that scammers and fraudsters want to take advantage.
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Just say no to anyone offering to help you obtain the $10,000 to $20,000 in student loan debt forgiveness. You don’t need them.
