Online scams are on the rise, up 87% since 2015, according to a new report from by the Better Business Bureau.
This year, online scams are the most prevalent, with 75% of people targeted losing money. And people ages 18-24 are losing the most money.
Now when you think of scams, you might think of phone calls. But bureau officials say texting schemes are up 30% this year, with an average loss off $800.
“We know texting scams really got prevalent during the pandemic and now it’s the way scammers are trying to get you online, give up personal information or payment information,” Melanie McGovern, Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York communications director, said. “Again, it’s the gateway now, text messages are opened 95% of the time and they’re usually opened within seconds of receiving them, so that’s why scammers love them.”
Here are some tips to avoid losing money:
- Be skeptical if anyone reaches out to you unsolicited
- If you are given a link, don’t click on it, go to the company’s website instead
- If you are unsure whether a website is safe or not, research it using a trusted source
For more information, click here.
