Student Loan Forgiveness
Now that we have entered into 2023, scammers are constantly evolving. In 2022 when “Student Loan Forgiveness” came about, scammers figured out how to use that. A scammer will call you and pretend that they are a person from the department of education. They will ask for your information such as your social security number and tell you that it’s for the application for the loan forgiveness program. But don’t do it because it is a scam. You might even receive an email offering the forgiveness program which will take you to a legit looking website to fill out the application, but don’t do it. It’s a scam.
The scammer might tell you that there is a fee in order to apply for the program but it’s a lie. There is no charge to apply for the student loan forgiveness program. They may also use pressure tactics by telling you that you need to pay your outstanding balance immediately or go to jail. One thing to remember is the department of education will not contact you, about the program, or about your balance. If you have questions or concerns about the “Student Loan Forgiveness” program go directly to studentaid.gov to find out more.
SIM Swapping
This is one scam that I wasn’t aware of. SIM Swapping is when someone takes your cell phone number and uses it for a SIM card in a cell phone that they have. By doing this they are able to access your accounts that you have available on your phone. They will be able to break into your accounts by a verification code or reset your password code that is sent to their phone. They can do this if you don’t have proper security on your phone or your phone company hasn’t closed the SIM port properly.
To avoid this from happening add extra security on your phone and use a couple to a few different ways to prove that it’s you when you log in to your accounts. For example, thumb or fingerprint verification is a good one. A scammer can not get your information if they don’t have your prints. The whole one password bit isn’t strong enough anymore for your accounts. That’s why places like Google mail or bank accounts are asking for two forms of verification now, to keep you more secure. Whether it is a face scan, fingerprint, password, or passcode. You need to make it more difficult for scammers. And don’t give anyone your passwords or codes.
Cryptocurrency
This is a popular scam now that affect people who want to invest in digital/virtual money. First off, cryptocurrency is a digital form of currency most of the time called bitcoin. It’s all used online with no physical form whatsoever. You may have heard someone say something about a virtual wallet and that is what’s involved with cryptocurrency. Now there are some legit sites that work with cryptocurrency where you spend some of your real money to invest in bitcoin. Which to me is still a high risk but to each is own.
The scamming with cryptocurrency happens when someone reals you in as an investor by impersonating an investment company. They get your information because you want to invest and it ends up being a fake account. Without you knowing it they will drain your real bank account. Cryptocurrency scammers will also use celebrity or high-profile giveaways as a way to lure you in. They might tell you that in order to enter into their giveaway for cryptocurrency tokens, that you will need to send them money first. If cryptocurrency is of interest to you I advise doing your research first before investing.
Giveaway Scams
Just like I mentioned above in the cryptocurrency, some scammers have been known to set up fake profile accounts using well known people and celebrities. They will go as far as using stock photos of the celebrities and make it look as authentic as possible. Then they will latch onto fans of those well known people and offer free giveaways. When the surprised fan thinks that their favorite celeb just offered them an award, the link will take them to a fake site. There the scammer could have you take different steps that will eventually lead to wanting your personal information.
Conclusion
It is so sad that this world that we live in has turned into such a greedy, hurtful, and insensitive place. With personal attacks, identities stolen, increased unnecessary violence, and theft in so many ways. And it’s hard to trust anyone these days. Scamming isn’t anything new but the scammers are finding new ways to do it. So, be aware of the people you come in contact with. Always do your research first before committing to anything. Don’t answer phone calls that you don’t know, don’t open emails for anything that you are not familiar with, and don’t open text messages that you don’t know who they are from. Scammers are hiding everywhere.