The Fast 6 Coming At Cha

As technology improves {?} our lives and makes it easy to get around and get things done it also opens the gates for thieves to gain control of your personal information. As we progress in today’s modern world of scams here are the top six affecting us today.

#1 – Check Cooking

Check washing was an older scam involving stealing paper checks out of mailboxes and washing the ink off with chemicals and replacing the amount and payee.

Now it’s called check cooking in which thieves take a digital pic of a stolen check and use software to alter it. This software can be commercially bought and is extremely hard to detect. It even replaces the watermarks. Criminals can then print a phony check or deposit the altered check with your bank’s mobile app’s such as “STAY SAFE”.

#2– Voice Printing

Thieves can record your voice over the phone and with a simple yes or no use modern software programs to generate a “Deep Fake” version that allows them to impersonate you. This can be used to access your bank or insurance institutions. One result is that the thieves then can call your bank and request funds to be transferred to accounts they own.

Just one more reason to ditch the ever so easy way of digital life. Beware that even if you recognize the number calling you it may be crooks that got ahold of a stolen phone or cloned the sim card.

#3 – Celebrity Impersonation

Can this be real? If a actor or their agent calls or reaches out to you and likes your comments on X or Facebook and wants to give you their personal phone number or account would you believe it’s for real? If you answered yes I am amazed.

This is a scam people and sooner or later while your still “High” on the thought of a superstar or athlete reaching out to you be prepared to hear a sad song or worse a tragic story of how their money is tied up in lawsuits or producing a movie and they could use a loan which will be paid back with great interest.

#4 – Delayed – Action Sweepstakes

You just won the dreams of your life! No taxes or fees required but we do need to get some personal information from you so we can validate you and get you ready for this huge pay-out.

One day you wake up to find several small withdrawals from your checking account and credit cards have small charges racked up. SCAMED!

Large sweepstake pay-outs are extremely rare and lotto’s will never reach out to you so when you get this call just hang up.

#5 – Fake Emergency Scam

This is how it works: Your e-mail gets hacked and shortly after all your contacts receive the same message at once. “Hey guys I’m stuck in Chicago or Costa Rica and someone stole my wallet.” “Please help!, You can send me some money through Venmo or gift cards with cash on them”.

My question on this? How in the hell can they remember your e-mail address or phone number in this day and age. Without my contact list I don’t remember anyone’s phone number or e-mail. This isn’t like before internet when you kept all that info in your head. So, resist the urge to automatically push buttons and spend money, instead do this. Try calling them and see if the phone is answered.

#6 – Classic Grandparent Scam Version 2.0

Grandma, I’m in trouble and need some cash to make bail, or my car is broke down and I need some money to fix it so I can visit you more often. The new version or 2.0 if you will involves a little more upgraded strategies.

Criminals now staff call centers with young adults who are paid a measly wage for each customer they deceive. If a grandchild calls from a number you don’t know hang up and call them on the number you have for them and check to see if in fact they are in trouble. No answer? still worried? Call other family members and have them check it out for you.

Closing It Down

So what this shows us that is everyone is acceptable to scams and somebody in this crazy world of ours is figuring out a new way to scam money from you so be careful.

REF*- AARP.org

until next time –