Scammers exploit people who are recovering after natural disasters and pressurize them into sending money or giving personal information. Learn how to spot these scams and protect yourself using Refundee.
Reporting A Scam
Reporting a scammer is important if you’ve been a victim. This helps keep scammers accountable and alerts other people to avoid the same thing.
We all know that we should be careful about our personal information. But it’s difficult to stop scammers stealing passwords and Social Security Numbers off your phone or computer. Some scam messages may even install malicious malware on your device.
Scammers use pressure tactics to make you send money with services like Western Union, Ria, or MoneyGram. Once you’ve wired money, it can be difficult to get it back. Learn to recognize and avoid these scams. Plus, learn how to protect your friends and family by sharing these tips. You can also find out how to report a scam and get help recovering from one. File a complaint online or contact your local law enforcement agency.
Scammers On Social Media
Scammers use social networks to impersonate strangers and friends, and trick people into giving money or personal data. Scammers use social media to promote fake products, services, and sales. Social media users must be aware of the scams that are appearing on Facebook, TikTok Instagram and other platforms. They should also secure their accounts by using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and when possible, a strong password.
Scams are often disguised as direct messages or ads on social media. They may ask you to click on links that take you to websites where you’re prompted to log in with your account or download malware onto your device. These scams can steal your passwords and 2FA codes and gain access to your online accounts. If you get a message or ad that asks for your login details, contact the company on a different platform directly to confirm it’s legit.
It’s also a good idea to review your social media privacy settings and limit what you share publicly. You can also report fake or suspicious profiles, posts and comments on social media.
Weather-Related Scams
The arctic blast has led to power outages, busted pipes and other problems for many people. It is also an opportunity for scammers who prey on consumers needing repair or other assistance. The Better Business Bureau of North and Central Texas has reported that scams are more common during severe weather.
The BBB warns that scammers may pose as FEMA or utility imposters. They may text or call, demanding personal information and money to clean storm damage. They may ask for payment through wire transfers or prepaid card that is impossible to track or recover.
There are a wide range of other disaster-related scams, too. For example, fraudsters might target those looking for employment by pretending to be local government officials or even a celebrity offering relief services. They could also sell cars that have suffered flood or hurricane damage at a high profit.
Beware of fly by night contractors that promise to fix roofs or trees that have been damaged by storms. The BBB advises you to check licensing and other credentials and avoid those who demand upfront payments or make promises they can’t keep.
Donating To Natural Disasters
It’s a natural response to want to help those suffering during a disaster, but before you donate to a charity, be sure you know where your money is going. Researching the charity is the best way to accomplish this. Check out their website and make sure the charity is a reputable one, with a history of success and transparency ratings on websites like BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch, GuideStar, and Charity Navigator. Also, make sure the charity is specific in their goals and what they are trying to accomplish. Some charities will accept items like food and water as well as monetary donations.
While in-kind donations are helpful, they can be expensive for the charity to manage and distribute. Plus, many items are either unneeded or will sit for months before they can be used, wasting money and creating pollution. It is better to donate regularly and support the charitable nonprofits that are working on the recovery. These organizations will ensure that your money gets to the most deserving recipients.
It’s also a good idea to look for local charities rather than national or international ones, as they are more familiar with the area and its needs.
Fake Package Shipment And Delivery Notifications
Online shoppers are often bombarded with emails and texts confirming orders, telling them that their packages have shipped, or alerting them that their delivery is on its way. While these messages are generally a convenience, scammers can use them to steal your personal information or money. This is especially true during the holiday season when more packages are being sent.
Fake shipment notifications are common when someone receives an email that appears to come from a trusted shipping service, such as UPS, FedEx or DHL, and asks them to click on a link in order to update their delivery preferences. This usually leads to an online site that requests personal information, such as usernames and passwords, or financial account details. It may also download malware on the victim’s computer.
Threat actors also create fake e-commerce websites with heavily discounted products and publicize them on social media to lure unsuspecting victims. Once they have the tracking number of a person, they can take over their order and ship another product that won’t arrive. This type scheme is called a “tracking number fraud” and falls under the phishing category.
A fraudster can also send a fake delivery or shipment notification by spoofing a real address and sending an email or text message that looks as if it came from the recipient’s local carrier or post office. This is easy to spot because most legitimate delivery companies will not contact you via phone or email unless you specifically signed up for this kind of communication.
If you receive a call or a text message from your shipping service that is not part of your usual communications, don’t reply and don’t follow any links. Log in to the website of your carrier to check if your usual deliveries have changed. If there are none, then assume the contact is a scammer.
