Recent months have seen a number of sophisticated frauds aimed at people of the state of Michigan. Be aware of the following five common schemes that are currently in use:
1. Bank Impersonation Texts
Customers of Northstar Bank have been warned about fraudulent text messages that come from what appears to be the bank and contain links that are aimed to steal personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission indicated that in 2022, ten percent of all text messaging scams were impersonations of banks, which resulted in major financial losses. This indicates that such frauds are extremely common.
2. Lottery and Credit Card Fraud
The arrest of two males from West Michigan who were involved in fraudulent activities relating to the Michigan Lottery and credit cards was made possible as a result of an investigation that took place from Bad Axe.
In this particular instance, the continuous danger of fraudulent schemes involving lottery prizes and the unlawful use of credit cards is brought to light.
3. Phishing Scams Performed on Toll Roads
Phishing scams that target users of toll bridges by sending them false text messages that say they have overdue amounts have been brought to the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
It is possible that receivers of these communications will click on fraudulent links, which might put their personal and financial information at risk.
4. Scams that are driven by artificial intelligence
Using artificial intelligence to clone voices, scams that make fraudulent calls appear to come from reputable individuals have been brought to the attention of the Attorney General of Michigan.
Traditional impersonation schemes are made more dangerous for victims who are not paying attention since this technology adds a convincing layer to the deception.
5. Jury Duty Scams
Individuals are being contacted by con artists who are posing as court officials or law enforcement officers and threatening to arrest them for purportedly missing jury duty unless an urgent payment of a fine is made.
There will never be a situation in which the courts demand payment over the phone or threaten to send someone to jail for missing jury service.
Residents should be on the lookout for these ever-evolving frauds and should take precautions to protect themselves by remaining cautious, verifying contacts that are not requested, and reporting suspicious activity to the authorities in their area.
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