In the summer, fraud and scam calls can get more frequent and intense. So how do you spot a fake?
What are some of the most common summer scams?
The rental scam is one of the biggest for the summer. Scammers list houses and condos for rent that are legitimate rentals that they have lifted from other sites. After you pay, the host goes silent and you learn the booking wasn’t legit. Another popular summer scam is unsolicited “storm damage” or home maintenance. The scam is that you make a down payment and the work doesn’t get done or work is completed that isn’t really needed. Social media scams especially around concert tickets, jobs or college scholarships are big during the summer. The final one is the Government imposter calls or emails that can range from supposed IRS agents to Medicaid or Medicare that focus on threats and fear to be successful.
What are some of the signs that should make us suspicious?
Asking to wire funds or go outside booking site should be a big tip-off that something is amiss with the deal. For the contractor frauds, whenever there is a limited-time offer on rates or they have extra materials that are deeply discounted, you should get suspicious. Whenever you hear free in relation to concert tickets or unclaimed scholarships be very wary. Free is usually not free and as soon as they ask for personal information or financial accounts you should be concerned. If you get a call from someone with threats of arrest or…
