Scams are no-good schemes designed to steal people’s identity or money. They are performed by fraudsters who participate in dishonest acts. Consumers report losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 alone, a 25% increase over the prior year per FTC.gov. Thus, being taken advantage of can happen to anyone. Are scams preventable? Yes, indeed. Read on to learn the harrowing tale of a businesswoman who was scammed and find out how learning from her mistake can protect you.
A sleepless night
A wakeful night led me on a scroll through a social media newsfeed where I came upon a post from a clothing designer and seller. Typically, she is smiling and showing off her latest fashion. But in this post, she looks seriously distressed. Why? Because she’s been scammed. Not only was she taken advantage of, but she faced what she describes as the scariest day of her life. It led me to wonder how it all unfolded, if scams are preventable, and best ways to protect oneself.
Why share her story?
This highly regarded fashion expert didn’t have to tell her personal story to the public. Nevertheless, she bravely decided to disclose her private experience in hopes of keeping other people from being swindled. Not only seeking to educate others in the name of scam prevention, but she also seeks to break the stigma associated with scams so that people don’t feel too embarrassed to report it and get support.
Everyone is vulnerable
There will be cynics who say people who are scammed likely deserve it for acting foolishly. This statement demonstrates a lack of compassion for victims of scams. Scammers prey on the innocent or pressure victims using cunning, conniving, and convincing tactics. Even victims of scams report that they can’t believe it happened to them. However, that does not mean that scams are unpreventable. In fact, people who stay educated on scams are less likely to become victims.
Basics of how the scam unfolded: (Note that this is a brief, summarized version of what occurred, so details may be absent.)
Part I of the scam:
Her husband is out of town, children in school, and she’s out running errands. She receives a phone call from someone purporting to be a police officer. The “officer” (scammer) states that she (the scam target) missed jury duty for a federal court case. The scammer describes a certified letter featuring her handwriting stating she was expected to appear in court. Because she was a no-show, she committed a crime. The call would be transferred to a federal officer.
Part II of the scam:
The “federal officer” (another scammer) gets on the line. He states that the call is being monitored on a federal, secure line. The caller confirms the target’s name and identifies himself (using false information). Next, the caller provides court case information to include the date of the missed trial and the judge’s name. He describes two federal warrants for her arrest for failure to report. The target of the scam states she didn’t remember signing a certified letter. The scammer tells her she will need to come down to the police station for a signature analysis. She feels something is off. He says that he will have the county sheriff’s office contact her.
Part III of the scam
Next, she receives a phone call spoofing (imitating) the county sheriff’s office. She looks up the incoming phone number and confirms that it’s accurate, so she now believes that she is on the phone with the actual county sheriff’s office. However, it is the scammer who is using technology to trick her. Believing that the call is legitimate, she provides the caller with the police officer’s name and ID to verify his identity. The scammer confirms that the officer’s identity is real. The scammer states that they need to verify the federal warrants. They “confirm” that there are two federal warrants for her arrest. The scammer repeats the same information provided by the first scammer.
Part IV of the scam
The caller tells her not to hang up. He instructs that if she gets pulled over by police, she should not give the police her ID or she will be arrested. Rather she should hand them the phone and the sheriff’s office will explain that she is compliant. Feeling like she needs support, she suggests calling her husband. The scammer convinces her that it’s a federal matter. Should she involve her husband, he could face charges, too. They welcome her to get a lawyer, but state that the goal is to get the warrants handled first. The caller explains that failure to comply can lead to arrest for up to 30 days until a new trial date is set. She is still suspicious, but the caller describes her handwriting, a unique way in which she signs her name, stating that it was on the certified letter she signed. So, she believes the call is authentic.
Part V of the scam
The caller (scammer) identifies her driving location and supplies her with “important numbers” that her police and lawyer will need. He gives her an FTA (Failure to Appear Number) and a CoC (Chain of Custody Number). He informs her of the bond amount due per warrant. She asks, “What if I can’t afford it?” He describes the consequences of lying to a federal agent, explaining that it is a punishable federal crime. Feeling pressured, she goes to the bank and withdraws bond money with the caller remaining on the line.
Part V of the scam
The scammer states that after she posts bond, gets the signature analysis at the police office, and sets a court date with her lawyer, the bond money will get released back to her. She is told to go to an FDIC ATM, monitored 24-7, and follow his instructions to deposit the money. He instructs her not to put her card in but rather use the federal numbers he provides as proof of paying the bond. He tells her to take a screen shot of the ATM screen as proof that the bond cleared.
The second she finished depositing the money, she realized she was scammed. Fearing that the bad actors knew her location, she readily called the police to report the scam. Unfortunately, she is not alone. Juror scams are ever prevalent and people, particularly in the U.S., are targeted by phone call, email, and messaging scams that threaten prosecution for failing to comply with jury service. Persons receiving such calls should not provide any information to the caller. Rather, they should promptly notify the Clerk of Court’s office of the U.S. District Court in their area, per uscourts.gov.
Good information
Understand that people who miss jury duty will not typically receive a phone call, email, or a text. Those are scams. Jury duty summons come in the mail. If you happen to ignore the first summons, you will likely receive a second summons in the mail with a new court date. If you repeatedly ignore summons, you may be subject to fines. Therefore, if someone calls you out of the blue stating you committed a crime by missing jury duty, it’s a scam. Knowing and sharing scam information provides protection against scams.
The takeaway
In the scam described above, unscrupulous bad actors posed as federal agents and sounded convincing to the victim. These scammers had personal information, including knowing her address and exact signature. And they used advanced techniques to pull off the scam. For example, they sounded authoritative, spoofed phone numbers, used reverse psychology, and disclosed some real information to appear legit. Unfortunately, the scam victim suppressed feelings of doubt she experienced during the scam ordeal, and the scammers worked to isolate her. Should you get the feeling that something isn’t quite right, don’t ignore it. Scams are preventable. The fastest way to stop a scam in progress is to immediately recognize the signs and immediately stop communications. Unfortunately, recovering lost funds is challenging if not impossible. Therefore, it’s best to stay vigilant by staying up to date on the latest scams and ignoring texts, messages, and calls from unfamiliar numbers.
Disclosure: This article is purely informational and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice.
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