Scammers and phishers have reached the next level of plying their despicable trade – text messages. I received a text message from Norton LifeLock informing me that my credit card would be charged $399.00. The text message provided an image that looked like an official communication from Norton LifeLock.

Many things looked suspicious about this communication. First, the price was exorbitant. Of course, the text also provided a phone number to call for questions and assistance.

So, I did what I always do: I searched for the company’s contact information and called to inform them that a new scam/phishing expedition was underway using Norton’s name as bait.

The message was indeed a phishing attempt. Norton even provided an email address so I could send the spurious message to the company for their action.

Then, I searched for the phone number provided in the text message. Sure enough, it was listed as a scam.

Federal Trade Commission data released in February of this year showed that consumers reported losing nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, an increase of more than 30 percent over the previous year.

In 2022, consumers reported losing $3.8 billion to investment scams, more than double the amount reported in 2021. The second-highest total loss came from imposter scams, $2.6 billion, up from $2.4 billion in 2021. Older people are often the targets.

According to the FTC, five scams make up more than 65 percent of the complaints.

1.      Government impersonation scams

Scammers call unsuspecting older adults and pretend to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration, or Medicare. The caller says the victim has unpaid taxes and threatens arrest if the person does not pay immediately. Scammers may threaten that Social Security or Medicare benefits will be cut off if the victim does not provide personal identifying information. The scammers use this information to commit identity theft.

2.      Sweepstakes and lottery scams

Scammers call an older adult to tell the person he or she has won a lottery prize. To claim the winnings, the “winner” must send money, cash, or gift cards up front – sometimes thousands of dollars – to cover supposed taxes and processing fees.

3.      Robocalls and phone scams

A common robocall is the “Can you hear me?” call. When the older person says, “Yes,” the scammer records the voice and hangs up. Robocalls use automated phone technology to dial large numbers of households from anywhere in the world. 

Another popular phone scam is the “impending lawsuit” scam. The target receives an urgent, frightening call from someone claiming to be from a government or law enforcement agency.

4.      Computer tech support scams

Technical support scams prey on older people’s lack of knowledge about computers and cybersecurity. A pop-up message or blank screen usually appears on a computer or phone, telling the victim the device is damaged and needs fixing. When the target calls the support number for help, the scammer requests remote access to the computer and demands a fee to repair it.

5. The grandparent scam

The grandparent scam is simple and devious because it preys on one of older adults’ most reliable assets: their hearts. Scammers call a supposed grandparent and say, “Hi, Grandma, do you know who this is?”

When the unaware grandparent guesses the name of the grandchild the scammer sounds like, the scammer instantly secures trust. The fake grandchild then asks for money to solve urgent financial problems, such as overdue rent, car repairs, or jail bonds. The “grandchild” may ask the grandparents not to tell anyone. Since fraudsters often request payment via gift cards or money transfers, the older adult may have no way to recover their money.

These scams work to catch us off guard. To be prepared, have the phone numbers of resources that can help, including the local police, your bank, and Adult Protective Services.

To obtain the contact information for Adult Protective Services in your area, call the Eldercare Locator, a government-sponsored national resource line, at 1-800-677-1116 or visit the website at https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx

Be always on guard. Do not take the bait.

            Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.