Victims lost $330 million to text scams in 2022, more than double the previous year’s losses, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A review of a few of the most common scams and issues the Better Business Bureau does and doesn’t handle highlighted Angela Guth’s presentation at the Thursday West Calcasieu Chamber of Commerce meeting. Guth is BBB president and CEO. She said the more technology use increases, the more scammers use new technology. Fraudsters even recycle scams the way fashion designers recycle fashion trends.

Read on to find out why we continue to click on links, open bogus emails and give out information we shouldn’t – and how to avoid some of the latest schemes.

It is not just the elderly or those with less education who fall for scams, according to an online Forbes article that uses research from American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The overconfident who don’t feel they fit the profile can be vulnerable. Fraudsters are very good at promoting feelings of fear, anger and greed. According to the Forbes article, “Most of today’s top scams depend on fear and creating a false sense of urgency.”

Last winter, it was common for crooks to call people and say their utilities would be cut off if they didn’t pay an overdue bill immediately. Widely-used scams in recent years involved telling people they were about to be arrested for unpaid taxes, or that their Social Security numbers had been ‘suspended’”

“I wish I could scream it from the rooftop. The Social Security Administration will never call you,” Guth said. “No government agency will ever initiate contact via telephone, Facebook message or text message. You will get a letter in the mail and that is how they will initiate it. If you go to a Social Security office, they may reach out to you at that point, but at no other point, IRS, Medicare, same thing.” The United States Postal Service will not text message you unless you have signed up to receive text messages.”

Guth said one “huge scandal going on right now” is the text message that says packages from Amazon, UPS or the US Post Office are delayed because the full shipping or postage was not paid. “You paid for shipping up front,” Guth said.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso recently warned citizens of the “warrant” scam that’s resurfaced here. Victims receive a call stating a warrant has been issued for their arrest due to a failure to appear in court — but if they’ll just pay a lump sum of money the arrest can be avoided. Mancuso says warrants are generally served in person and if a CPS deputy does call about an outstanding warrant, he or she will never ask for money.

Reports of texts from crooks impersonating banks or a well-known company such as Amazon asking the receiver to call about suspicious activity or verify a large transaction that was not actually made are up twenty-fold since 2019. Guth said rather than responding to a link that would take the victim to a fake website or calling a number and getting a phony “Amazon” or bank rep, go to the Amazon page to see if the information checks out. Call the bank by calling the number on the back of the credit card or the number at the main branch. Don’t call the number the text message gives or link-click to what will be a bogus site set up to get more information for scammers to use.

The ding of an incoming message can be hard to ignore and scammers use the speed of such a message in hopes that the receiver won’t slow down and think it over. Some messages promise a good thing, a gift, package or a job. Guth said legitimate sweepstakes and lotteries, including Publisher’s Clearing House require no money up front. Work-from-home and secret shopper job offers  that sound too good to be true, are not. It’s a ploy to get vital personal information.

Most honest individuals believe most individuals are honest. Understand this: crooks probably have access to information, including personal details. Don’t assume the scammer is legitimate just because they share those details.

After Guth reviewed scams, she reminded the group what the BBB does and does not do.  The BBB doesn’t cover employment issues and disputes. For those complaints, it is necessary to call the Department of Labor. It is not a credit bureau. They are not attorneys, but she did recommend the Louisiana Law Center which offers $25 consultations. The BBB is not law enforcement nor the health department.

“We are a dispute resolution center,” she said, “as long as the dispute is concerning a marketplace transaction that happens between consumers and businesses. We are also a great resource for reputable businesses,” she said.  Instead of using Facebook to ask if you know a good plumber or mechanic, go to the BBB website, find out if they are licensed and if there are any complaints against them.”