How to Avoid Text Scams: Tips from 7 On Your Side

The Rise of Consumer Fraud

• 📈 The Federal Trade Commission reports a 25% increase in consumer fraud, totaling $12.5 billion lost in 2024.
• ⚠️ Even tech-savvy individuals can be caught off guard by sophisticated scams.

Common Scam Tactics

• 📱 Scammers use robocalls, text, and email spam to make it difficult to secure digital lives.
• 🎯 Top scams include phony job recruitment, toll collection (like Easy Pass), and election-related schemes.
• 🚨 A common tactic is creating a sense of urgency, fear, or time-sensitivity to pressure victims.

Protective Measures and Tools

• 📞 Services like Aura, Haya, and Truecaller offer call and message blocking features, often for a small monthly fee.
• 🛡️ Cyber or ID theft protection insurance can cover significant amounts of fraud, ranging from $50,000 to $5 million.
• 💻 Be wary of links on social media and emails that lead to dummy websites designed to look legitimate.

Identifying Fake Deals and Websites

• 🔍 Scammers often create fake clearance sales, like a fraudulent Jo-Ann Fabrics blowout (which is now Michaels).
• ⚠️ Always look closely at the spelling of website addresses; slight variations can indicate a scam (e.g., jnarance.com vs. Joanne.com).
• 💡 If a social media deal seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Secure Payment Methods

• 📞 To confirm a sale's legitimacy, call the retailer directly instead of clicking on links.
• 💳 Always pay by credit card for greater consumer protections compared to debit cards.
• 💸 Avoid sending money via Zelle or Venmo to unknown recipients, as these transactions are nearly impossible to reverse.