Author Archives: virginiasmp

The failure of a major cryptocurrency exchange has wiped out many crypto investors, and it could lead to potential scammers looking to cash in. Find out how to avoid them.  Some scammers offer so-called recovery services to people who have lost money to fraud. If you’ve lost money in crypto, scammers might try to convince you they canContinue reading “Worried About Crypto Exchange Losses? Don’t Pay Money for “Help” Recovering Money”

When Nicole Brandes, 54, did a routine check of her three linked Bank of America accounts online recently, she noticed something alarming: $10,000 was missing. The Washington, D.C., art teacher looked closer to find that $9,300 from her business account and $700 from her personal checking account had first been transferred to a fourth accountContinue reading “Money Can Be Stolen From Your Bank Account: Here’s How to Lower Your Risk”

Have you ever been unhappy with a service — like your phone or Internet — and tried to cancel it? But, when you tried, you found it difficult or nearly impossible? Learn about the ways companies illegally trick or trap people who use their services, steps to take, and your rights. (Read More)

With the holiday season approaching, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) warns online shoppers searching for gifts and other merchandise to arm themselves with research and use credit cards to dodge scammers. Online shopping scam reports to BBB Scam Tracker remain just under all-time highs reached in 2021 when BBB issued an in-depth study, Theft on a Massive Scale: Online ShoppingContinue reading “Reported Online Retail Fraud Losses to Approach $380M in 2022”

Dreaming about making extra cash with an online business or by trading cryptocurrency? Are you ready to ditch the 9 to 5 life to be your own boss? You might see business opportunities and training programs marketed to (supposedly) help make that happen. But big promises of big money are one sign that you’ve run into aContinue reading “Business Opportunities and Trainings that Claim You’ll Make Big Money are Often Scams”

Many people believe they are too smart to be taken in by a scam. But they miss the key point: Scammers mostly bypass your intellect and rely on sophisticated psychological and emotional manipulations to get you to say yes. “You don’t have to be a fool to be fooled,” says Robert Cialdini, author of Influence: The PsychologyContinue reading “7 Tactics Criminals Use to Perpetrate Fraud”

Shopping for a car? With new car prices averaging more than $48,000, you may be thinking about buying used. But in the wake of disasters like Hurricane Ian, tread lightly: after a hurricane or flood, storm-damaged cars are sometimes cleaned up and taken out of state for sale. You may not know a car isContinue reading “How to Steer Clear of a Flood-Damaged Car”

BBB is warning Facebook users that sharing a certain kind of attention-grabbing post might put their friends at risk of falling victim to a scam. How the scam works You are scrolling through Facebook, and a gut-wrenching post about an injured, lost pet or a missing child grabs your attention. You want to help, soContinue reading “Facebook Scams in Local Buy-and-Sell Groups Are on the Rise”

If you or one of your loved ones are on Medicare, you’re probably aware that open enrollment ends on December 7. And you’re probably reviewing and comparing different options to select a plan that’s right for you. But as you shop around, know that scammers might take advantage of this period to impersonate Medicare agents. (Read More)