There’s nothing new about scammers scamming people out of their hard-earned money, but their methods are always changing.
The Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois monitors all the ways fraudsters try to deplete your bank account, detailed in its annual “Fraud Tracker” report. We focus on the top 10 schemes.
“Scammers are notorious for taking advantage of current events and news and putting a new spin on it to deceive people,” said Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the local BBB.
Online shopping scams remained atop the annual list of Top 10 Scams of the Year by the Chicago and Northern Illinois Bureau of Good Business.
Associated Press, 2016
Is it a plagiarism based on a single tip? If someone wants you to do something within 30 minutes, he said.
“All you have to do within 30 minutes is order a pizza,” Bernas said.
Topping this year’s list is online shopping fraud, which remains in first place for the fourth year in a row. After all, who doesn’t love a good deal? Thieves rely on it.
Phishing ranked second for the third year in a row, with scammers continuing to flood email inboxes and text messages to hijack your computer or trick you into handing over sensitive information by clicking on a link. It’s done.
“I don’t think people realize how serious this is. It’s getting to the point where the BBB recommends not clicking on links,” Bernas said.
Employment fraud rose to third place. The BBB says scammers are jumping on the artificial intelligence bandwagon and using it to conduct fake virtual and phone interviews. In one scam, a Batavia resident was “hired” after a phone interview and then sent a check for equipment needed for the job, resulting in $4,161 in losses.
Steve Bernas, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois
The rest of the list:
Number 4: Counterfeit products. They are often sold on fake websites. You may not receive your product or you may receive a cheap counterfeit product. (In November, Daily Herald staff writer Marni Pike reported on packages collected by Customs and Border Protection agents at Chicago airports this year.)
Fifth bullet point: Home improvement scams moved up four spots. Among the victims was a St. Charles resident whose driveway paving contractor quit after being paid $1,600.
Health care debuted in 6th place.
Advance payment fraud fell to 7th place.
Identity theft was number eight. The BBB says it’s not a question of if your personal information will be stolen, but when.
Part 9: Tech support scam. Victims are often tricked into paying hundreds of dollars to give scammers remote access to their computers.
Part 10: Debt collection.
We asked Bernas what bothers him about fraud.
“(Fraud) is quite preventable. It’s very frustrating,” he said.
He points out that victims typically go to great lengths to gather information, file complaints, and deal with the consequences of being deceived.
“All that work should have been done ahead of time,” he said.
He also wants everyone to report fraud attempts, even if they aren’t fooled. It might also be helpful to others who saw the same thing while researching whether something is legal. Police also have access to reports submitted to the BBB.
For more information or to report something, visit bbb.org/ScamTracker.
From mayor to professor
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin is a longtime criminal defense attorney, previously a prosecutor, and currently an adjunct professor in Aurora University’s criminal justice program.
He began teaching a 300-level course, “Criminal Evidence and Procedures,” on Monday nights this semester.
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin currently teaches criminal justice courses as an adjunct professor at Aurora University.
“When I was in school, many of our professors taught in ways that were far beyond our imagination,” Irvin told students in their first class, according to a city news release. “That won’t happen here. We’ll explain it in a way that’s easy to understand, fun, and prepares you for whatever you plan on doing in the criminal justice field.”
Irvin previously taught undergraduate students at Robert Morris University and Northern Illinois University.
Speaking of aurora
Aurora Community Outreach Specialist Brian Moreno was praised for his quick actions Saturday when a person with a gun threatened people at an emergency warming shelter.
Provided by City of Aurora
Aurora Community Outreach Specialist Brian Moreno received the city’s MVP award this week for his quick actions when a man with a gun caused a disturbance at the Aurora Transportation Center last weekend.
The center opened Saturday night as a warming shelter, and Moreno was on duty helping about 50 people in need.
According to the city, that’s when they saw the man hit someone with a gun and then point the gun at another person. He called 911 and got people outside to safety.
“Anyone who joins the military or volunteers to become a police officer probably anticipates that at some point they may be in mortal danger while on the job,” Irvin said Tuesday, when he will present the MVP award. He told Moreno at the time. “But you can’t expect that when you’re staffing a warming center. I can only hope that we can all handle the situation with the calmness and professionalism you’ve shown. You matter. and is highly regarded.”
“I’m so happy that we’re all still here to share this story,” Moreno said.