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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Many new scams hit the U.S. this year, but some scammers stuck to the classics in 2014.
The Better Business Bureau of North Dakota and Minnesota has released the top ten scams from last year. The scams were rated in their overall reach.
The top scam for 2014 was bogus IRS Calls. Unknown callers would falsely claim affiliation with the RIS and demand immediate payments. Callers would threaten their victims with arrest if they refused.
Below is the full list of the top scams reported in 2014.
1) Bogus IRS calls – Unknown callers falsely claim an affiliation with the IRS and tell intended victims they owe taxes and must make an immediate payment using a pre-paid debit card or via wire transfer. Scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest or even deportation. However, the IRS contacts people by mail in regard to unpaid taxes.
2) The Caller ID Scam – Your phone rings and you see your name and phone number pop up on caller ID. If you answer, a computerized message claims to be able to lower your credit card interest rates. Any action consumers take, such as pressing 1 to ‘opt out,’ tells fraudsters that the phone number is ‘good,’ and that number is then added to lists which scammers sell to other scammers. And those promises of lowering your credit card interest rates? Not legitimate.
3) Timeshare scams – Timeshare owners receive calls from individuals claiming to have secured buyers or renters for their timeshares. After receiving official-looking contracts, consumers are eventually informed they have to provide funds upfront to cover transfer fees, title or closing costs and/or taxes in order to close the deals, which aren’t real.
4) Online Pet scams – People find websites claiming to offer purebred puppies for free or at very low prices. However, they’re told transfer fees have to be wired to release the puppy or payment has to be made to a third-party shipper. The funds are paid, generally via wire transfer or prepaid debit cards, but the pet never arrives.
5) Mystery Shopping offers – People receive mailed solicitations, accompanied by sizable checks, to become mystery shoppers. Though the checks look legitimate, they’re bogus. Consumers should be aware that legitimate mystery shopping firms don’t operate in this manner.
6) Tech Support Scam – You receive a call out of the blue saying there’s a problem with your computer. A ‘helpful’ expert offers to help you fix it and/or asks for your credit card information. Don’t play along! Cooperating could give scammers access to your computer and/or sensitive financial information. When there’s a problem with your computer, you call the expert – they don’t call you.
7) Sweepstakes/Lottery solicitations – You receive a notice saying you’ve won a huge cash prize. All you have to do is pay taxes, insurance or fees and the “prize” will be yours. However, if you have to claim your winnings, you haven’t won anything.
8) Bogus postcard/Survey scams – Good news! You’ve been told you’ve won a $100 gift card from a major retailer or will get one for taking a short survey. The bad news? These ‘offers’ are fake and the people behind them just want your credit card number or personal information.
9) Fake subscription renewal notices – Consumers receive subscription renewal notices promising the lowest rates on newspapers or magazines, but discover the notices are sent by a third-party. They also discover renewing directly through the periodical’s publisher costs less.
10) Grant schemes – Usually these grant “notifications” come via the phone, but people may also receive them through mail and email. Individuals who receive them are told they’re either eligible for or have been awarded a government grant, but processing fees must first be paid. However, there are no processing fees for federal grants.