Top 6 Scams to Watch out for in 2024!
By Patrick J. Kiger, AARP
*Shared by Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser

This article is not exactly as the author has written; some parts have been left out or paraphrased.

1. Check "cooking” scam
In 2023, there was a surge of thieves stealing checks from postal boxes, mailboxes, and mail carriers, and then washing the checks with chemicals, leaving only the signature. The thief would then change the payee and amount of the check allowing them to cash the check, usually for thousands of dollars.
Now in 2024, the thieves have discovered an easier way to steal. In check cooking, thieves take a digital picture of a stolen check and then use commercially available software to alter it. If you still choose to write paper checks, use the following cautions:
• Drop it off at the post office, instead of a mailbox.
• Continually monitor your bank account and immediately report suspicious transactions.

2. Voiceprint scams
This is where AI technology is used. Thieves capture a recording of your voice and use a software program to generate an imitation “deepfake” version that can be used to impersonate you. They call your bank and request money be sent elsewhere. To prevent this from happening, AARP recommends you:
• Don’t answer the phone, unless you know the person calling you, and even then make sure you know who you are talking to.

3. Delayed-action sweepstakes scam
Sweepstakes scams have been around for a long time. In the past, scammers ask victims to send money
for taxes before the award can be delivered. Now,
the scammers are asking for banking information and social security number, explaining they will file with the IRS for you. Surprise, you’re now a victim of Identity Theft. Scammers will start making small deductions from your bank accounts to see if you notice, then move to larger deductions. They also use your information to obtain credit cards and lines of credit in your name that can give them a bigger pay day down the road. If you get one of these calls, remember:
• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
• If you get a call from someone claiming that you’ve won a huge prize, the safest bet is to just hang up. And never, ever provide any personal information.
 
4. Virtual celebrity scam
Fans have become accustomed to constant virtual intimacy with celebrities through social media. If you’re on Facebook or Instagram, and someone pretending to be Celine Dion or her manager reaches out to you, it is more than likely an imposter. For example, if it’s a fake manager, they may say that Celine loves your comments and would love to talk to you. Here’s her private account, but after you connect to it, the talk gradually turns to how her fortune is tied up and she could use a $50,000 loan from you. If you get a direct message from someone claiming to be a famous performer or superstar athlete, or someone representing them, be very, very skeptical. It’s almost certain to be a scam!

5. Multi-stage grandparent scam
This well know scam is still around, but more sophisticated. Scammers set up call centers with young people posing as grandchildren who have been jailed after a car accident. They are paid for every grandparent they connect with and give a case number to, instructing the grandparent to provide that number to the defense attorney or local prosecutor when they talk to them. When the grandparent calls back, the scammers say, “Oh, do you have the case number?” It is a psychological trick to see whether the grandparent is compliant and will follow instructions to send thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.

6. Paris Olympics scams
Criminals try to find ways to exploit big events that are in the news. With the Paris games coming up this summer, more than likely we will begin to see the revival of the fake emergency scam, which bears similarities to the grandparent scam. It could work something like this: A scammer hacks someone’s email account, and shortly after, all of that person’s contacts will receive the same message–something to the effect of, “Hey guys, I’m over in Paris and my wallet was stolen! Can anyone please help me out by sending gift cards or a Venmo deposit?”  Olympic Officials are also warning ticket seekers to avoid bogus ticketing sites and scam emails purporting to be from Paris2024.org (the official website for the games) or the Olympic committee.

Thanks to Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser for sharing his latest outreach newsletter with us. This is just one excerpt of interest.  The entire newsletter is available at https://www.ohiopa.org/newsletter62024.pdf