Modern-Day Pirates: Scams & How to Avoid Being a Victim

By Lori Hartwell

In today’s digital age, the internet plays a vital role in our daily lives, offering countless opportunities for communication, education, and entertainment. However, it also acts as a breeding ground for scams that can inflict serious emotional and financial harm on their victims.

I recently watched the movie Thelma, which follows the journey of Thelma Post, a determined 93-year-old woman who becomes a victim of a phone scam, losing $10,000 to a scammer impersonating her grandson. Driven by her resolve, she embarks on a mission to reclaim what was taken from her.

The film is inspired by “grandparent scams,” a deceptive scheme which preys on the emotional vulnerabilities of older adults. A scammer typically contacts the victim via a phone call or email, posing as a distressed grandchild and pleading for money, claiming they have been arrested and need funds.

Thelma vividly portrays the emotional turmoil experienced by its protagonist as she navigates the fallout of the scam. Blending comedic elements with a poignant message about her feelings of defeat, the film leaves the audience feeling a sense of vindication and a longing for revenge. Armed with her scooter, a supportive friend, and a fierce determination to recover her money, Thelma confronts her adversaries head-on.

Below are some other common scams which have deceived people.

• Phishing Scam: Attackers impersonate reputable organizations through urgent emails or messages, tricking users into providing login credentials on fraudulent websites.

• Online Ticket and Auction Scams: Fraudsters list attractive products/events on platforms like eBay, collect payments, and fail to deliver the items or tickets, leaving victims with financial losses.

• Tech Support Scam: Scammers pose as tech support from known companies, claiming that a victim’s computer is compromised, then seeking remote access or payment for unnecessary services.

• Nigerian Prince Email Scam: Victims receive unsolicited emails from someone claiming to be a wealthy individual needing assistance to transfer money, often resulting in personal information loss or financial theft.

• Lottery or Prize Scam: The scammers may call, text, or email to tell the victim that they have won a prize through a lottery or sweepstakes, then asks the victim to pay an upfront payment for fees and taxes.

Newer Scams:

  Get a Kidney Scam: This fraudulent scheme deceives people into thinking they can secure a kidney by providing their insurance information and paying fees.

• Owe Money Scam: A scammer may contact the victim via phone, email, or text message that appears to be from the victim’s bank, medical office, or utility company. The scammer may claim that there is a problem with a transaction or payment and ask the victim to send money via Zelle to resolve it.

• Debt Collection Scams: Scammers pose as legitimate debt collectors, threatening people with debt they do not owe. Someone contacts the victim, often by phone, but also by text message, fax, mail, or email, and claims that they owe a debt. The debt may be completely fake. The scammers’ tactics can be very intimidating.

When someone falls victim to such deception, their initial reaction is often one of shock or disbelief. Victims may struggle to comprehend how they were misled, replaying the events repeatedly in their minds. This tendency to blame themselves can result in feelings of shame and embarrassment, making it difficult for them to share their experiences with others. However, Thelma was not concerned about that; all she wanted was her money back. This is just a story, and not a good idea to pursue in real life.

Experiencing a scam is a distressing ordeal, but there are effective steps to take to address it. First, remain calm and gather all relevant information, such as emails, receipts, and screenshots. Report the scam to your bank or credit card company, especially if you suffered a financial loss, to secure your accounts and potentially reverse any unauthorized transactions. Keep a close watch on your financial accounts, change your passwords, and consider enabling two-factor authentication for added security.

Fostering an environment of awareness can help alleviate both emotional and financial repercussions, making online spaces safer. Reflect on your experience so you can identify warning signs and educate yourself and others about common scams in order to prevent future occurrences. If the scam is severe, inform local authorities or consumer protection agencies, and report any suspicious activities. Additionally, if the scam occurred online, notify the platform involved to help protect others.

If you see something, say something. And do not go chasing anyone down like Thelma did!

Ways to Protect Yourself from a Scam: Limit Personal Information Sharing Exercise caution regarding the information you share on social media and other online platforms, as scammers often create fake profiles to harvest personal details. Avoid participating in games where participants are asked for personal details, such as your pet’s name or favorite color, as scammers can gather this information to guess password or security questions.

Adjust Your Privacy Settings Take control over who can see your posts and profiles and ensure your friend list is concealed on social media.

Recognize Suspicious Messages Remain vigilant against phishing emails or texts which may appear legitimate but aim to deceive you into providing personal information. Watch for indicators such as poor grammar, generic greetings, urgent requests, or a bogus sender email address, and always verify unfamiliar requests through official channels. You can also do an online search to check if others have reported the email or text as a scam.

Use Strong Passwords Construct strong, unique passwords for your accounts which include a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Steer clear of easily-guessable passwords like birthdays or names. Whenever possible, activate two-factor authentication for added security.

Website Credibility To assess the credibility of a website, check for a secure SSL certificate, which is indicated by a padlock icon in the URL bar. You can perform a “Whois” lookup to verify the ownership of the domain. Additionally, ensure that the website has a clear privacy policy and provides its physical address and contact information. You can also consult social media to gauge public opinions about the website.

Confirm Identity If you receive a suspicious call, always verify the caller’s identity and request their contact information. Do not return the call using their number; instead, use a number from a reliable source, like your credit or insurance card, to check for legitimacy. Legitimate debt collectors typically have detailed information about you, while scammers often ask for personal details instead. If they seem unaware of essential information, it is likely a scam.

Trust Your Instincts If an offer appears too good to be true, exercise skepticism. Deals which promise easy money, unrealistically low prices, or a kidney are often scams. Take the time to investigate before acting on any suspicious offers.

Here are more tips from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-are-some-common-types-of-scams-en-2092/

Lori-Hartwell-foudner-president-kidney-talk-host-authorLori Hartwell is the Founder and President of Renal Support Network (RSN) and the host of KidneyTalk® Podcast. Lori was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of two and is now living with her fourth kidney transplant. She has published numerous peer reviewed articles and the book Chronically Happy. She is a thought leader in the kidney community and her goal is to always improve the patient’s experience of care and to let her peers know they are not alone in their journey.

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