State and local law enforcement agencies put a lot of effort into protecting the public against scams. They routinely send out alerts and warnings to newspapers and other media in an effort to arm people with information that can keep them from losing hundreds or thousands of dollars to schemes ranging from bogus home repairs to e-mail imposters claiming theyíre a friend in distress.
Yet, despite all those warnings, hundreds of thousands of people fall victim each year. And many of them are here in Rowan County, as reporter Shelley Smith explains in a package of stories in todayís Post.
The information in Smithís series is relevant for everyone, but especially for senior citizens and those who help manage their affairs. While some scams take the scatter-shot approach, sending out mass e-mails in hopes of a random response or two, others specifically target elderly homeowners who may be easily intimidated into withdrawing money from their nest egg, or signing up for unnecessary or outrageously expensive repairs.
For an idea of the problemís extent, consider these numbers from the Consumer Sentinel Network, a federal clearinghouse that tracks scams, frauds and other consumer complaints:
Fraud complaints continue to grow. CSN logged more than 725,000 last year, representing a loss of $1.7 billion. The cases ran the gamut from bogus sweepstakes and counterfeit checks to unscrupulous debt collection practices. Experts say the numbers understate the problem because many victims are reluctant to reveal theyíve been bilked.
The explosion of electronic media has given crooks new opportunities. Email is the No. 1 way that scammers communicate with potential victims, and a wire transfer of funds is their preferred way of looting someoneís account.
ěImpostor fraudî is the fastest-growing scam, popping up across the country. It affected more than 60,000 people in 2010, up from five cases in 2008. Thieves claim to be a friend stranded overseas or a relative who needs emergency help, or they may present themselves as a bill collector of government agency like the IRS. Along with email, they use Facebook messages and phone calls to get people to drop their guard and hand over money or account numbers.
Knowledge and a skeptical attitude are your best defenses. As quickly as investigators expose one scam, criminals and hucksters are developing new ways to separate trusting people from their hard-earned cash. Scams persist and proliferate because theyíre sometimes successful. Stay informed, remain vigilant and contact authorities if you suspect a scammer is trying to make you their next victim.