The statistics are stunning. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers filed 2.8 million fraud reports in 2021, which is an increase of more than 70% over 2020. The resultant losses total more than $5.8 billion.
Today, we are inundated with data to the point of numbness and detachment. Unfortunately, behind every statistic and dollar loss lies a real human being.
Whether you realize it or not, you probably know someone who has become a part of those dry statistics. At the Better Business Bureau, we deal with these humans nearly every single day. The scams these victims fall prey to are varied — delivered by phone, text, email, social media and the US Postal System.
Scams and frauds affect people emotionally and mentally. It’s not unusual for victims to be ashamed and afraid to let someone know they’ve been defrauded. Often their life savings are gone or severely depleted. They may have given the fraudsters their personal and financial information. They feel helpless and vulnerable.
Along with the emotions come so many questions: Who should I tell? Can I get my money back? Is there anything else I should do?
Scammers are smart, knowing how to stay a step ahead of their victims and law enforcement. They move quickly to make it harder for their crimes to be reversed.
If you realize you’ve possibly become a victim of a scam, you must move quickly as well. While chances of getting your money back are slim, rapidly following these steps immediately will…
