The Sentinel: Scam

Unpaid toll text scams on the rise in Wisconsin and Illinois

Anyone with concerns about being scammed can reach out to the Wisconsin DMV or Illinois toll services directly.

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Wisconsin News Connection

MILWAUKEE - Scam text messages impersonating the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and toll authorities are on the rise, despite the fact Wisconsin does not have toll roads.

The texts claim you have unpaid tolls and threaten extra fees and fines if not paid promptly. They include links to pay the fees and can also list a phone number to call.

Courtney Anclam, senior program specialist for AARP Wisconsin, said she's received about 10 of the texts in the past month. She noted they originally appeared to be from numbers in states like Connecticut or New York but are now mimicking the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, showing an increased level of sophistication.

"They're harvesting credit card information and then using your credit card to go buy whatever other things they want," Anclam explained. "It's really important to not click on any of the links, don't call any of the phone numbers. Doesn't matter how official it looks."

Anclam added even though Wisconsin does not have toll roads, neighboring states like Illinois do. Anyone with concerns about being scammed can reach out to the Wisconsin DMV or Illinois toll services directly.

Anclam recently started including toll text scams in her outreach presentations across the state, pointing out most people in the audience have received them. She added while most of them delete, ignore, or mark the messages as spam, they often don't report them to official agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

"There might not be a huge number indicating that we've gotten thousands of reports," Anclam acknowledged. "But we know that thousands of these text messages are being sent because people are telling us, I got two of these, I got five of these, whatever it may be."

Anclam stressed the need to continue discussing the scams to raise awareness, saying they have grown more believable and intimidating.

"I think there's a common misconception that older people are more likely to be the victim of a scam, which is not true when we look at data from the Federal Trade Commission," Anclam observed. "Actually, younger people are reporting losing money to fraud more often than older people."

DATCP said they are receiving many more inquiries and complaints about scam text messages and encouraged anyone who receives one to report it.

Other interesting articles:

How to avoid fraudsters when you are in financial distress

Photo: RDNE Stock/PEXELS

StatePoint - Although fraudsters will prey on anyone, many tactics specifically target those facing financial hardship in the wake of a natural disaster.

To help you avoid becoming a victim when you’re most vulnerable, Freddie Mac is providing these tips and insights:

Watch Out for Common Disaster-Related Scams

As the intensity of severe weather events increases, understanding common disaster-related scams can help you avoid them. These include:

High-Interest Loans for Repairs: In this scam, someone may offer to loan you money for home repairs, often at a high interest rate, while you wait for your insurance money. In return, they ask for a post-dated check, your auto title or your tax refund. Although this may provide short-term relief, it’s an example of predatory lending because the high interest rates could end up costing you more in the long term. Read any contract before signing it, and make sure you understand the total cost of the loan, including its terms and fees.

Repair Contractor Prepayment: In this scam, your home repair contractor may ask you to sign a “direction to pay form” that allows your insurance company to pay the contractor directly, even before the repair work is completed. This can leave you vulnerable to incomplete or poor quality work. To avoid this scam, read your contract carefully and do not authorize the full payment amount until you are satisfied with the final product.

Requests for Financial Information: In this scam, a person claiming to be a government employee or disaster relief professional may request financial information, saying they need it to help you recover from a crisis. Protect yourself by never giving anyone your personally identifiable information by phone, email, text or in person without confirming their identity. For example, ask for identification and independently call the entity the person claims to work for.

If You’re Struggling to Pay Your Mortgage, Beware of Fraudsters

If you’re struggling to pay your mortgage after a natural disaster or due to other circumstances and you are facing foreclosure, be on the lookout for two common types of fraud.

Foreclosure Rescue Fraud: In such a scheme, someone may falsely promise to be able to save your home from foreclosure. The fraudster will commonly:

Require you to sign the title to your home over to them.
Ask you to sign unfamiliar documents.
Ask you to share personal information.
Charge you rent to stay in your home.
Offer to pay your delinquent mortgage by purchasing your home.
Promise that you can repurchase your home when your financial situation improves.

Fraudsters orchestrating these schemes pose as professionals and promise to stop foreclosure, often at a high price. However, they don’t deliver on their promises. As a result, you could lose the title to your home and be at risk of foreclosure.

Loan Modification Scams: Loan modification scams may operate similarly to foreclosure rescue fraud. In these scams, fraudsters collect an upfront fee and promise to work with your loan servicer on your behalf. They claim that they can obtain a loan modification that reduces your payments.

If someone other than your loan servicer (the company listed on your mortgage statement) offers you mortgage assistance, don’t provide your information.

If you are struggling with your mortgage payment, contact your lender, a certified HUD housing counselor or a housing finance agency. These trustworthy resources can present you with real options to help avoid foreclosure.

Unfortunately, fraudsters have made it their business to prey on pain. With the right knowledge, you can help ensure that no one takes advantage of you when you’re down on your luck.

Romance scams are on the rise, the elderly are particularly more vulnerable

Photo: Asad Photo Maldives/PEXELS

StatePoint - They say, “you can’t buy love,” but scammers have figured out a way to exploit it for profit.

Romance scams are at an all-time high and, while victims cross all demographics, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that elders are increasingly targeted. Why? Because they often have retirement savings at their disposal and may be more be isolated and less tech savvy.

Jonathan Hammond /Pixabay

“Romance scammers often manipulate emotions to gain trust,” says Mark Kwapiszeski, head of enterprise fraud for PNC. “Those who fall victim end up putting feelings above logic. This can create embarrassment and, as a result, these crimes are less likely to be reported.”

Scammers will create convincing profiles on dating and social media apps, reaching out to their target feigning familiarity or attraction. Things move quickly, but there is always a reason they can’t meet on video or in person. They may claim to have a reason that requires them to be overseas or out of reach. They tell their target everything they want to hear, and the hook is set.

Suddenly, a crisis arises that they insist they need help financial help with to mitigate. Or maybe they need finances to set up a new life together. They ask for the money, but would prefer it be sent in a form like cryptocurrency or gift card where there is little chance of the victim ever recovering it.

Such scams are highly effective. In 2022 alone, romance scams resulted in $1.3 billion lost, more than double the money lost in the previous year, according to the FTC.

To add insult to injury, scammers may convince their target to send them revealing photos they will later use to extort them. They may even play the long game and build trust over time, then convince their target to invest with them, without the victim ever getting any return.

“A romance scammer can invest a long time in cultivating trust, which makes these scams particularly nefarious,” Kwapiszeski says.

To protect against potential romance scams, follow these tips:

• Before sending money or sharing financial information, consult a friend or family member. Simply talking to someone not involved in the situation is often enough to identify red flags.

• Trust your gut. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

• Beware of “love bombing,” when a person lavishes you with excessive flattery, affection and praise early in the relationship to manipulate your emotions.

• Be wary of strangers reaching out on social media.

• If you like someone, ask for a quick video chat. If they refuse or make up outlandish excuses, that’s a red flag.

• Stay alert to photos or biographical details that don’t match up with what someone’s told you.

• Use image and name-reverse searches to validate the identity of people you meet online.

• Never send intimate photos to strangers or invest without doing your due diligence.

• Confide in family and friends if you grow suspicious.

Elders have lost homes, emptied out retirement accounts and risked lifetime savings for a love interest that never truly existed. Once the shock abates and the money is gone, the shame sets in and some have even resorted to self-harm instead of admitting to being defrauded in this way. If a loved one falls victim to a romance scam, it’s important to respond with empathy.

If you believe you or someone you love has been a victim of fraud, PNC Bank’s web resources, as part of its Security and Privacy Center (pnc.com), can help. After taking immediate measures to protect yourself, block the scammer on all accounts, change your passwords, and report the incident to the FTC and FBI.

The best line of defense against romance scams is awareness. Understanding common tactics can help you stay protected.

Living nightmare; moving scams are the worst

Photo: StatePoint

During initial contact with the landlord or a rental company, ask questions about the leasing process. Before signing that new lease, you should read it thoroughly. If something seems off, clarify it beforehand or walkaway from the rental.

StatePoint Media - In difficult economic times, fraudulent housing schemes become more prevalent, impacting homeowners and renters alike. To help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud, Freddie Mac is sharing the following insights and tips about the most common tactics and scams.

Predatory Lending

Previous financial disasters have led to more robust consumer protection laws. Nevertheless, you should remain vigilant about predatory lending. Look for warning signs, such as pressure tactics, incomplete, confusing or contradictory loan terms, and high rates and fees, including penalties for paying your loan off early. Additionally, lenders should not suggest you take out more credit than you need or suggest a monthly loan payment that does not cover the interest due on your loan. It’s important to work with someone you trust. If you’re hesitant to move forward with a lender, consult a HUD-certified housing counselor or lawyer to gain a better understanding of the loan terms.

Foreclosure Rescue Fraud

Fraudsters often target those in distress. During times of financial hardship, be especially aware of foreclosure rescue fraud, where someone falsely promises to be able to save your home from foreclosure. Common elements of this scheme include the fraudster requiring you to sign over the title to your home, asking you to sign unfamiliar documents or share personal information, and charging you rent to stay in your home. They may also offer to pay your delinquent mortgage by purchasing your home with the promise that you can repurchase it when your financial situation improves. If you’re struggling with mortgage payments, don’t deal with unknown entities. Directly contact your loan servicer, a HUD-certified housing counselor or a Housing Finance Agency for legitimate options to help avoid foreclosure.

Fraudulent Leases and Units

Millions of Americans have lost money due to fraudulent rental listings. You can avoid becoming a victim of this scam by always seeing a unit in person or over video conference before renting it, and by never paying a security deposit until you have signed a lease. Be sure to read your lease thoroughly before you sign it, asking questions about any concerning details early in the process. When rental unit hunting, be wary of red flags such as prices that are too good to be true, listings riddled with grammatical errors and property managers asking for personal information before you’ve seen a unit.

Moving Fraud

Typically, moving fraud occurs when scammers who act like legitimate movers provide a low estimate and, once you move, demand a higher price and withhold your belongings until you pay. To avoid this scam, research the company to ensure it is legitimate, insured and has good reviews. You should also know that reputable moving companies never require advance payments or use high-pressure sales tactics.

Report Scams Immediately

If you believe you’ve been a victim of a scam, take the following actions:

• If a criminal has your identification information, call your creditors to cancel your credit cards. Review your transactions to make sure you recognize them. You can also request that creditors receive your written consent before changing your mailing address or sending a replacement credit card. Your creditors may advise additional precautions.

• Contact the credit bureaus to freeze your credit reports so that there’s no activity on your reports unless you approve it.

• Report the scam to one or more of the following entities: the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, HUD’s Office of the Inspector General Hotline, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

To access Freddie Mac’s collection of fraud prevention resources, visit myhome.freddiemac.com.

Whether you’re a prospective homebuyer or seasoned renter, a scam could potentially impact you. Familiarizing yourself with common tactics can help you identify a scam before it’s too late.

• • • •

Protect yourself and family from holiday season scams

Jonathan Hammond /Pixabay

Statepoint Media - In today’s hyper-connected digital universe, cyber criminals have more information than ever before, with the ability to reach you through unsecure public Wi-Fi, your email inbox, via text message, and more.

According to a Scam and Robocall Report from T-Mobile, Americans lost an estimated $39.5 billion to phone scams in 2022. Lucky for you, there are several ways to protect and safeguard your personal information to help prevent scammers from scammin’ this holiday season.

1. Avoid Public USB Ports: Traveling by plane this holiday season? The FCC warns that cyber criminals can download malware to public USB charging ports to gain access to your information. Prevent this by using an AC power outlet instead.

2. Beware of Charity Scams: It’s the season of giving, but the FCC warns many cyber criminals take advantage by creating fake charities staged as real nonprofit organizations to gain access to your payment information. Woof. To prevent this, don’t click on suspicious email or text links and verify the organization is registered at the National Association of State Charity Officials or Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance before donating this holiday season.

3. Screen Your Calls: Scammers are continuously upping their game, with total robocall attempts up 75% from 2021 to 2022. Detecting whether an incoming call is a potential scam isn’t always easy, but T-Mobile’s Scam Shield app makes it simple. Free to all T-Mobile customers, Scam Shield enhances your scam-blocking protections so you can say goodbye to scam calls. In 2022 alone, Scam Shield identified or blocked 41.5 billion scam calls in the T-Mobile network. That’s a whopping 1,317 calls identified or blocked every second. With Scam Shield, when the network detects a potential scam call, it is flagged and displayed as “Scam Likely” on your device. Customers who want even more protection can download the Scam Shield app or dial #662# from their T-Mobile smartphone to enable Scam Block, which automatically blocks any calls that match the database of scam calls. Take that, tricksters. To learn more, visit t-mobile.com/scamshield.

4. Shop Smarter Online: According to Statista, 57% of holiday shoppers plan to use their smartphone to make holiday purchases this year, and scammers are onto them, ramping up activity during the two weeks before Christmas. To minimize any cyber Grinches trying to steal your personal info, monitor your financial accounts regularly for suspicious charges and sign up for your bank or credit card company’s text or email notifications to stay on top of fraudulent activity.

5. Use Secure Tools: Safeguard your online accounts with Multi-Factor Authentication, which requires users to enter two different kinds of information to log in, like a password and one-time PIN code. It’s like having a digital bouncer to make sure only you get into your accounts. Another protection is a password manager, giving you the ability to securely store passwords across multiple platforms and websites. The tool also provides an autofill password function and a new password generator.

To learn more about the industry’s top fraud trends and how to stay protected from scammers year-round, check out T-Mobile’s Scam Shield Report found at t-mobile.com/news.

While cyber threats are on the rise, you can sleigh scams by staying vigilant and incorporating these best practices into your life this holiday season.