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By Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott
Sometimes it seems like potential scammers are everywhere you look. Whether it’s an email trying to convince you to help a Nigerian prince who’s down on his luck, a series of phone calls from an unknown number telling you you’re about to be audited by the IRS, or even a good old fashioned piece of snail mail telling you you’ve won a big prize, it can seem like scammers have managed to creep in all over the place.
Because they’re so prevalent, it can also be easy to feel complacent. But scammers are counting on that, which is why it’s important to stay vigilant. Scammers are creative and always looking for new ways to separate you from your money or information. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself.
There are a few ways to identify potential scams. First, scammers will often mimic reputable organizations or even people that you know in order to trick you into sharing information that you otherwise wouldn’t share. Relying on caller ID or the return email address isn’t always good enough because scammers can use technology that changes their phone number or they may have even hacked the email address of someone you trust.
Scammers will often tell you that you need to act urgently to solve a problem (such as a family member who is in trouble, the threat of legal action, or that you need to claim a prize immediately). They want you to act quickly so that you don’t have time to question what’s going on. If someone on the phone says you can’t hang up or call back, it’s likely a scam designed to keep you from figuring it out. Never act immediately – if it’s a legitimate request, it can wait until you’ve confirmed who is asking.
Financial scams will often ask you to pay them in an odd or specific way, such as paying a penalty using gift cards, depositing funds in a public drop box, or cashing a check for them and sending back the money. Scammers ask for payment in novel ways because it makes it easier to hide their identities and avoid detection. (And as a reminder: the Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement agencies never demand payments over the phone or email.)
Finally, be wary of “phishing” scams, which try to trick you into giving out confidential information. Phishing emails frequently ask you to click on a link or enter in your login information by claiming there is a security issue or other problem that needs to be solved immediately. If you get an unexpected request from a company, organization, or person you’ve interacted with, don’t click on any links they send. Instead, look them up on a website you trust or call their main phone number.
If you encounter a suspicious phone call, email, or other request for funds or money, remember that it’s okay to take some time to talk to someone you trust. Speak with a trusted friend, family member, or law enforcement professional before responding to an unexpected request. Having a fresh perspective can keep you safe from getting taken advantage of.
If you do find that you were the victim of the scam, call your local police station and report it. The Attorney General’s office also has a hotline you can call if you are suspicious of a business or have been scammed: 1-617-727-8400. If you want to learn more about how to identify a scam and protect yourself, the Federal Trade Commission has a ton of helpful information at FTC.gov/PassItOn.
Thanks to Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott for contributing this article to Westwood Minute.
