Posted January 20th, 2012
Written by RPD Staff
The Livingston County, Michigan Police Department is becoming more vigilant about warning the public of the presence of phone scams in the area. According to Sheriff Bob Bezotte, a recent call to County Commissioner Dave Domas prompted officials to research the occurrences of escalating phone scams. During the call, the scammer requested personal information including a social security number. Domas immediately reported it to the police and discovered the call originated in Pakistan and India.
Posted January 9th, 2012
Written by RPD Staff
The nominees are in and after reviewing thousands of scam reports over the last year, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has named its infamous list of the Top Ten Scams of 2011 by category, including one scam so notoriously evil that is earns honors as Scam of the Year! This year, scams are increasingly reliant upon technology, with a healthy smattering that includes the use of texting, Facebook and email. What’s more, it’s getting even more difficult for unsuspecting victims to discern a legitimate communication from a fraudulent one, thus making 2011 a bountiful year for scammers and fraudsters alike.
According to the BBB, the top ten scams of 2011 by category include:
Posted January 3rd, 2012
Written by RPD Staff
Scam artists are notorious for preying upon people who are compassionate and those who value helping others. The criminals’ prime targets are grandparents, nonprofit organizations and religious affiliations. These types of scams put church affiliations in a tough predicament, On the one hand, helping people is their mission, yet they do not want to fall prey to a scam.
In Lee County, Florida, a scammer is targeting area churches posing as a man in desperate need of money to travel to see his dying child. Thankfully, many of the area churches were suspicious, but sadly, several churches provided the man with the funds.
Posted December 27th, 2011
Written by RPD Staff
Phone scam awareness is spreading across the globe and it has been instrumental in preventing the robbery of thousands of dollars. A Raleigh, North Carolina woman, Susan Johns, due to recent awareness, was able to suspect a phone scam before it made her a victim.
Johns recalls viewing a NBC story about a woman who became a phone scam victim. Because of the story she became suspicious of a recent phone call to her house and credits the story and the courage of the victim with her victory. “If it hadn’t been for that really courageous lady, we probably would have picked up on it, but it made it more clear because of what she had gone through. If this helps someone else catch them, and say ‘oh, this isn’t right,’ then, Amen. Praise God,” she said.
Posted December 8th, 2011
Written by RPD Staff
The Southeast of America is experiencing an alarming rise in the number of tax-related scams. According to Internal Revenue Officials, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” The IRS is referring to unscrupulous tax preparers who are conning taxpayers into unwarranted legal advice or charging exorbitant fees for activities that could be performed for free. “Most paid tax-return preparers provide honest and professional service, but there are some who engage in fraud and other illegal activities,” IRS spokesman Mark Green said.
“Unscrupulous promoters may deceive people into paying for advice on how to file false claims,” Green said. Other scammers are charging taxpayers for services they can acquire for free by the IRS or IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance partners. “And, in some cases, identity theft is involved,” Green said.
Posted December 2nd, 2011
Written by RPD Staff
Phone scam awareness is spreading across the globe and it has been instrumental in preventing the robbery of thousands of dollars. A Raleigh, North Carolina woman, Susan Johns, due to recent awareness, was able to spot a phone scam before it made her a victim.
Johns recalls viewing a NBC story about a woman who became a phone scam victim. Because of the story she became suspicious of a recent phone call to her house and credits the story and the courage of the victim with her victory. “If it hadn’t been for that really courageous lady, we probably would have picked up on it, but it made it more clear because of what she had gone through. If this helps someone else catch them, and say ‘oh, this isn’t right,’ then, Amen. Praise God,” she said.
Posted November 23rd, 2011
Written by RPD Staff
The Missouri State Genealogical Association sponsored the 30th Genealogy Conference which attracted 170 family-history enthusiasts. Chairwoman Nancy Thomas clarified the goals of the conference by saying that it helps attendees to navigate genealogical records and the pitfalls involved. The lineup was composed of a variety of courses covering many topics including newspaper research, how to separate fact from fiction, accessing military records and online databases. Participants of the conference also had the chance to speak to experts via the conference’s new program “Ancestry Roadshow”.
Hank Jones, the genealogy expert featured on “Unsolved Mysteries” was the keynote speaker for the conference. Jones spoke about the common misconceptions and hurdles one has to overcome when researching family history.
Jones warned conference attendees not to put all of their effort into one document since sources can be deceiving. Even though he has had multiple success stories, he outlined some common errors in his presentation, When Sources Are Wrong. “I wish I didn’t have to give this talk, but it happens all the time,” he said. “Erroneous sources are part of the territory.”
Posted November 14th, 2011
Written by RPD Staff
Craigslist scams are not new to the world, but they are becoming even harder to detect. Years ago, unsuspecting victims would wire money to criminals who promised to ship their newly-bought items. Presently, these types of scams rarely manifest since people are catching on to scammers’ tactics.
The newest scams were unc these overed by a warning from the Better Business Bureau. According to the BBB, Craigslist scam artists are not only intent on stealing your money, but also your identity. Residents of Wichita, Kansas were recently targeted in a slew of Craigslist scams targeting auto buyers, renters and job seekers. Their personal and financial information was compromised.
In an attempt to thwart scams, the BBB suggests you adhere to the following guidelines when using Craigslist or similar sites:
Posted November 8th, 2011
Written by RPD Staff
In the past, we have heard of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warning consumers about phone scams, but this incident is the first of its kind. Apparently, the Saskatchewan BBB has received reports of a scam artist calling local residents posing as an employee of the organization.
Pat Heffernan, executive director of the BBB, was contacted by a woman who took a call from a man claiming to represent the Better Business Bureau. The man on the call identified himself as “Joshua”. The man stated that he was currently involved in an investigation on prior credit card transactions and asked for the woman’s credit card information. He pressured her by threatening penalties if she did not comply.
Posted November 1st, 2011
Written by RPD Staff
From finding our car keys to helping us find our way home, smartphones have revolutionized the way we live. Sadly, new technological advances bring with them thieves who are ready to capitalize on a new opportunity.
Phone scams have taken on a new identity; tech-savvy criminals are finding ways to hack into applications from mobile phones and wireless devices. These crimes are happening right under the noses of those who own these gadgets.
The newest applications allow users to start their vehicles from a remote location. The OnStar RemoteLink app is currently used by car owners to start late-model GM, BMW and Mercedes vehicles. Recent news from computer security teams who were assembled to test the security of these devices has suggested that users are vulnerable to hacks.
Next Page »
