Scam calls and messages target Americans more than anyone else
A new global survey of more than 10,000 adults finds Americans receive fraudulent messages nearly twice as often as people in other countries.
Unbranded – Lifestyle
Multiple scams over three days defrauded Washington state residents of more than $670,000, according to a Facebook post from the local sheriff’s office.
One of these scams involved an elderly resident handing over approximately $420,000 to a man who showed up in her driveway.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest scams and how to protect yourself from them.
Scammers pose as Microsoft or FTC employees
Four residents of Clallam County, a coastal community along the northern Washington Peninsula west of Seattle, lost more than $673,000 in just three days, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
The scammers used several different sophisticated tactics, including posing as employees of Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission.
The minimum loss was $3,500, which was purchased with Apple gift cards by someone posing as a Microsoft technical support employee, the sheriff’s office wrote. Another person lost $50,000 after clicking on a malicious email and unknowingly giving the scammer access to his financial account.
Additionally, a 64-year-old resident was forced to download a fake app by someone who appeared to work for the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, resulting in the loss of $200,000.
hand over $420,000 in gold
The largest scam targeted an 84-year-old individual, who was tricked into believing that the scammers were being investigated by the FTC for child pornography and money laundering charges, and handed over nearly $420,000 worth of gold bars to someone who showed up in his driveway.
“The scammers instructed victims not to contact local law enforcement and claimed that local banks were also being investigated. Victims were told that their bank accounts were at risk of seizure and were instructed to purchase gold to protect their assets,” according to a news release cited by local outlet Peninsula Daily News.
The victim then purchased approximately $420,000 in gold and handed it to a man who appeared in his driveway. The person did not realize he had been defrauded until he contacted the bank.
Scammers “prey on fear, trust and urgency”
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for more information about the latest scam.
“These criminals are professional manipulators who prey on fear, trust, and urgency,” Undersheriff Lorraine Shore said in a statement. “Before you send money, buy gold or gift cards, or send any cryptocurrencies, we encourage you to pause. A simple call to a trusted family member, bank, or local law enforcement can prevent life-changing financial loss.”
Stop, think, and reach out to someone you trust
The Sheriff’s Office shared some tips on how to avoid being scammed. Most importantly, reputable companies and government agencies such as Microsoft and Coinbase will never:
- Tell them not to contact law enforcement.
- Ask them to buy and send you gold, gift cards, or cryptocurrencies.
- Send someone to your home to collect money, cash, and other valuables.
- Request remote access to your computer or phone.
Before sending any information, money, or valuables that could be at risk, it is imperative that you stop, hang up your phone or log off the web, and consult a trusted authority, such as a family member, friend, bank, or law enforcement.
“These criminals are professional scammers,” the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. “They create fear, urgency, and trust to persuade victims to act before they have time to think.”
Drew Pittock covers trending news from around the country for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.
