Sky-high prices might make it really tempting to chase an online bargain on a XBox Series X or even a hot toy called Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball.
Tight budgets might make it tempting to listen to a pitch on how you qualify for lower rates on your credit cards.
And too many distractions might make you think that the text you just got from a bank or retailer is the real deal.
One small problem? The scammers already know that plenty of people are edgy about their money in 2022. Too many could easily get trapped when everyone is trying to cut corners.
Fraudsters want to go for the easy path, the person who won’t question why a deal is so incredible; the person who isn’t necessarily going to notice odd spellings in a text from their bank or favorite retailer; the person who isn’t looking for red flags of a scam.
“They want somebody who doesn’t know it’s a scam to start the conversation because there’s more of a chance that they’ll get money from them,” said Joe Micara, vice president of North America for Callsign, a fraud prevention company that tracks recurring digital behavior patterns of users for banks and others.
It’s easier, for example, for a scammer to deal with someone who is slightly intimidated by technology and more likely to believe that a text or email that seems to be from a well-known company must be factual.
Don’t pay for a hot holiday deal via Zelle
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