Scammers are always coming up with new and creative ways to steal your money. Whether it’s using a recent crisis in the news to sway unsuspecting victims or scare tactics while posing as law enforcement, scammers are sometimes more persistent and creative than the victim is attentive.
At the end of July, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office announced a scam where someone was making calls posing as a deputy. A statement released by Public Information/Crime Analytics specialist Lt. Rick Carson, titled: "Scam Calls," said the agency received reports from citizens. Carson said the person was contacting residents claiming to be from the DCSO Civil Process Unit.
The calls are to inform them there are papers to serve upon the potential victim. The calls, the statement said, are coming from a spoofed county number, 843-829-7422. The DCSO warned residents that if the number appears on Caller ID to disregard it and report it.
In addition, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) reports there are certain scams for different times of year. Scammers don’t take the summer off.
Watch out for the summertime red flags. SCDCA reports disaster and storm scams are popular. Hurricane season officially started on June 1, and scammers will work on any disaster or storm, acting like repair people or even federal government employees.
SCDCA said the promise relief or help to clean-up and perform repairs, but disappear with the money or information. A person never has to pay for government disaster relief, and suspicions should arise if repair people who show up unannounced and want payment upfront.
Other summertime scams include financial aid and scholarship scams. SCDCA reports future college students may be looking for ways to pay for college. Scammers will try and convince students that they can get financial aid, grants or loans in exchange for a processing fee.
In reality, SCDCA reports, all the fraudsters do is fill out a free application for Federal Student Aid. Sometimes they will enter false information to qualify for more financial aid, which could cost students a $20,000 fine or jail time. Students should not pay anyone to fill out their FAFSA form — it is always free.
Travel scams are another favorite this time of year, according the SCDCA. Whether it’s a “free” vacation offer, robocalls about vacation deals, or fake vacation rental listings, scammers know consumers are looking for an inexpensive way to take a trip. The agency warns to never pay fees or taxes for a “free” vacation; a legitimate company will not ask for payment for a free prize.
Also, robocalls trying to sell you a product are illegal unless you’ve given them written permission to call. If you’re looking to book a vacation property, be aware that scammers can hijack a real rental or real estate listing by copying it and placing an edited advertisement on another site. SCDCA said, always do the research by reading reviews, searching the internet for duplicate listings.
Rental scams are also becoming more popular. The SCDCA said if someone finds the apartment with everything they are looking for half the price, the deal is too good to true. If a scammer asks to have to deposit sent to them via wire transfer don’t do it.
The SCDCA warns to stay on guard against scammers who list fake places to live. Scammers advertise rentals that either don’t exist or aren’t available to trick someone into sending money and giving over personal information.
A big story earlier in the summer that has fallen out of the news is the baby formula shortage. But it still exists. Scammers pay attention to the news as well and they take advantage.
The SCDCA reports that with a formula shortage, parents are desperate to find formula for their babies. “Third-party sellers” are advertising fake formula in stock, selling for much higher than retail prices or creating fake websites to trick parents into buying non-existent products.
Always the agency says make sure the reviews are read before buying, using a credit card when shopping online and calling your pediatrician the local WIC office when food or formula is not available. For any suspicious activity, SCDCA said report it to the Attorney General’s Office at 803-737-3953.
