HOUSTON — At a time when inflation is high, you can’t afford to lose money. That’s why BeenVerified put together a list of scams to look out for in the new year.
Facebook Marketplace scams
Facebook Marketplace scams grew by nearly 185% in 2022 from the previous year, according to BeenVerified. Some of the cases included sellers losing products to scammers who sent fake checks or other bogus forms of payment. To avoid this scam, make sure you pay through Facebook instead of letting the scammer lure you off the site. That way, if things go south, you’re protected.
Zelle scams
Zelle scams jumped 86% in a year, they said. Victims are baited with fake rental listings or pets for sale. After the money is sent, the fake seller is silent and the buyer gets nothing. To protect yourself on Zelle, only send money to people you know and trust.
Tax/IRS scams
The usual fake calls are still happening, but so are offers of fake tax-debt relief. The person on the other end just needs a fee to help. It’s a scam. The IRS will never call, text or email asking for payment. The IRS still sends letters by snail mail.
WhatsApp scams
Sextortion is one of the popular ways to part you from your money. The scammer works to develop a relationship and then asks you to send intimate pictures. The next thing you know, you’re being blackmailed for money. If you don’t pay up, the images will be shared. If you don’t know the person, don’t send pictures you might regret later.
PayPal scam
In some cases, victims reported sending cash by Paypal for a product but they never receive anything. Other victims reported bogus fraud claims and fake Bitcoin purchases as a way to get your money.
To read more about popular scams, check out BeenVerified's website.