The latest scam alert from the Kingsport Police Department should focus both on the criminal act and a need for employee training. Combined, they are the best one-two punch deterrent.
Typically, phone scams involve individuals being conned out of their own money. Once they get you on the line, phone scammers use false promises, aggressive sales pitches and phony threats to pry loose information or money. It’s difficult to believe, but a survey last year found that in the previous 12 months, some 59 million Americans lost money to a phone scam. The average loss was $1,200.
Scammers use auto dialers to broadcast robocalls by the millions at low cost. Technology allows them to disguise the calling number as one that appears to be local to increase the chances that you’ll answer.
Whether live or automated, according to the AARP, scam callers often pose as representatives of government agencies or familiar tech, travel, retail or financial companies, supposedly calling with valuable information. It might be good news: You’re eligible for a big cash prize, or you’ve been selected for a great vacation deal. Or it might be bad news: You owe back taxes, or there’s a problem with your credit card account.
Whatever the issue, it can be resolved if you’ll just, say, provide your Social Security number or make an immediate payment by purchasing a…
