Dear Friend,
Consider this a public service announcement. Scams are prevalent lately and I’ve seen some that appeared quite credible. They almost took me in!
National publications like Travel & Leisure recently pointed out scams that have cost a large percentage of travelers money, as much as $500 or more! (Beware scammers masquerading as Tripadvisor.)
Everyone’s busy, but it’s important to be aware of details. Here are some scams I’ve seen personally:
- An invoice claiming I owe money to a medical organization. After reviewing the details of the invoice, I saw definite signs of a scam. The organization’s logo wasn’t quite “right.” The phone number to call and email to contact were flaky, as if you’d contact someone named “Bob” to pay a bill!
- An emailed receipt that shows USPS tried to deliver a package, but wasn’t able to. First, question whether you are expecting a package. Look at the information and determine whether it’s legitimate. If a phone number has one of the following area codes, suspect that as a scammer: 876, 809, 829, 849, 473, 268, 284, 649, 767, and 232 are just some of the frequently used numbers. The scammers can also replicate your area code, so your voicemail may view it as local.
- An invoice claiming they’re the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and you owe money for registering your car. Even though the amount requested seems reasonable and legitimate, multiplied by thousands, it’s a profitable scam. Watch out for weird variations on a DMV email. Check by going to your government’s legitimate website and finding the true email. Also, look carefully at the logo and the email for the DMV. It won’t look perfect or legitimate.
- Someone called me with a weird voice saying they were my grandson and asking for money to get out of jail and to please not call his mom. (They said they had a cold, which was why the person’s voice sounded weird.) I knew my grandson would NEVER have that happen and called their home to verify. Yup! A scam!
Being scammed is never fun! I’m learning to recognize the signs of a scam and have even found more than one-a-day lately.
Now, for my fictional characters, who feel very real to me! In my upcoming book, The Greatest Thing, Will, the main male character (MMC) is scammed by a student.
Will is a “TA,” Teacher’s Assistant, and teaches a class for freshman year students. He published his office hours so students who need help can speak with him outside of class. One female student makes an appointment to meet with him.
Warned by his professor and mentor about over-eager female “swooners,” Will knows to be aware of this possibility and takes precautions.
As I don’t want to ruin your future reading experience with a spoiler, I’ll just suggest you read The Greatest Thing when it launches in July. (I’ll provide the launch date soon.) On my website, I show that the student’s threats could have dire consequences for Will and Louisa. Click here
Have you ever been scammed? If so, how did you handle it? Were the results satisfactory?
Please take my friendly suggestions for avoiding scams to heart. I’ve always considered myself alert to scams, but years ago, someone scammed me. It was not pleasant or quick trying to recover the funds I lost. Please put your response in the Comments box below. Or, email to: shelley@ShelleySommers.com .
Stay cool and enjoy your reading!
Shelley
