Editorial: Be knowledgeable as scams continue to spread throughout our area
As technology advances and people get older, a lot of scammers are beginning to attempt to become creative in ways to obtain information or funds from their targeted victim. As a person who has encountered this on several occasions, I believe it’s my duty to let you all know if it sounds too good to be true or if you have to give up something, then it probably is.
I will present to you an example that took place involving our newspaper a few years ago. A call came into the Chronicle from a person identifying themselves as the “Virginia State Police.” They asked if they could talk to someone who was authorized to make payments. I took the phone and asked what they needed the payment was for. After the person said what it was, I informed them that I could leave a message to give them a call back. Knowing that it was a scam and that I had caught on due to my research of the number through the Internet and potential scheme, the man said, “There is no message sir. Have a good day.”
Unfortunately, scammers are attempting to come up with creative schemes to obtain voices of victim to activate authorization of purchases. For example, a person may say, “Hello, are you there?” in an attempt for a person to say “Yes.” That simple “yes” could be used for confirmation of purchases. Through emails, scammers will mirror the address of someone you may know and ask you to download a document or click a link. If you weren’t expecting anything, this it’s more than likely a scam.
The best knowledge is to be prepared. Everybody can be a victim, from the youngest of generations to the oldest citizens. People are getting to the point where they are desperate for a quick dollar and not working for it. Scammers work from selling products, threatening legal action, making promises to send something if you provide the money upfront, and so many more things.
The reason why I write this is because we are all targets of crime. Scamming is spreading throughout our community and if we are not knowledgeable about it, then we are the next victims. Just remember that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. If you receive a call from an unknown number, there is no need to answer it. If it’s not important enough for that person to leave a message on a voicemail or answering machine, then it’s probably not important enough to answer. Remember, certain entities (such as law enforcement officers) will not ask for money every via the phone. If someone asks for money upfront in exchange for a service, make sure you do your research, ask questions, and receive inquiries from other. Even asking a neighbor or family member if they heard of a company can save a person a lot in the long run.