Thieves are, unfortunately, very crafty. They’ve become that much more adept at targeting and stealing from victims, and you can only take so many precautionary measures to keep yourself safe. In fact, in 2021, consumers reported losses totaling over $5.8 billion—a 70 percent increase from 2020—the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in February. Now, police have issued a warning about a new trick scammers are using, preying on your willingness to believe what they tell you. Read on to find out what thieves are doing to steal your money, and how to keep yourself safe.
READ THIS NEXT: If You Answer the Phone and Hear This, Hang Up and Call the Police.
Odds are you’ve familiarized yourself with some of the most common scams, and you might be pretty good at spotting a phishing email. But thieves also evolve, developing different ploys to get what they want. They’ll even put on disguises—police in Bradenton, Florida warned residents about a burglar posing as a pest control worker.
They’ll also pressure you into taking certain “deals.” In September, the Cheyenne Police Department in Wyoming warned residents about an uptick in asphalt paving scams. As part of this con, suspects knock on your door and offer to pave your driveway at a discounted rate. But after starting the job, they up-charge victims and threaten to leave the drive incomplete unless the additional amount is paid.
While it’s…
