It often starts with a simple click or a moment of distraction. A convincing email, a friendly-sounding voice on the phone, or a deal that seems too good to pass up. However, these official looking messages are actually scammers. And over the years they are becoming more and more realistic. Even in our hometown of Lee’s Summit, many individuals and businesses have been victims of these scams recently. And as they improve their schemes, it’s more important than ever to understand their tactics and build a strong defense to keep your money safe.
Know What to Look For: Popular Scams
Scammers have many tricks up their sleeves. Here are some to watch out for:
Phishing Scams
These involve deceptive communications, often emails or text messages, designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account details. They often mimic legitimate organizations, like banks, government agencies, or even your boss, using urgent language or threats to create a sense of panic. These are the most common scams that I receive. Below is a scam text that I receive almost daily:
Imposter Scams
One of the most effective and heartbreaking imposter scams is the “family emergency” scheme. A criminal will call or text pretending to be a loved one—often a grandchild—in desperate trouble. They’ll create a frantic story about being in an accident, getting arrested, or being stranded and will plead with you to send money immediately. To heighten the pressure, they’ll often insist you keep it a secret. This is just one version of an imposter scam, where criminals also pose as government officials or tech support to trick you.
Investment Scams
The dream of making easy money is a powerful one, and it’s something scammers love to exploit. They’ll come to you with investment opportunities that promise the world—huge profits, no risk. To make their schemes look like the real deal, they’ll create fancy websites and post fake reviews from ‘happy investors’. A new strategy scammers are using is to build an online friendship with their victims before proposing an investment scheme (often cryptocurrency).
How to Protect Yourself: Essential Tips
Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Communications
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of unexpected calls, emails, or messages, especially if they ask for personal information or immediate action. Assume first that messages from unknown people are scammers.
Verify Before You Act
If you receive suspicious communication from an organization, do not click on links or call the number provided in the message. Instead, verify the sender by looking up their official contact information on their real website and contacting them directly. Many scammers try to create phone numbers and email addresses that are very similar to the real ones, so look carefully.
Protect Your Personal Information
Never share sensitive details like your Social Security number, bank account information, or credit card numbers unless you initiated the contact and are certain of the recipient’s legitimacy. Organizations that actually need this information will do so in a secure manner, not through regular text or email messaging.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication
A strong password acts as your first line of defense. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible, as it adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. Be sure to not give out your MFA codes; employees won’t usually ask for it.
Be Wary of Payment Requests
Scammers often request payment via unconventional methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, which are difficult to trace and recover. If you are demanded to pay with one of these methods, it is a telltale sign that you are talking to a scammer.
Educate Yourself and Others
Scammers change their tactics the moment we figure them out, which is why continuous learning is important. Make it a habit to check for new alerts on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website. Then, turn that knowledge into action by sharing it. A quick conversation with a friend or an older family member about a new scam you’ve seen could be the one thing that prevents them from becoming the next victim.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, your best defense against scammers is your own best judgement. They want you to panic and act without thinking—don’t give them that satisfaction. Take a breath, verify the message, and remember that if something feels off, it probably is. You’ve worked hard for your money, so let’s make sure you get to keep it!