In 2021, more than half of Americans received a scam call or a text message, making mobile phones the newest platform for fraud. US residents lost a total of $30 billion last year alone, which increased by $10 billion from the previous year. (Comparitech January 2022)
With the increase of this specific use of communication, it is important to stay educated and informed on the latest mobile phone scams and learn how to protect yourself and your personal information. Here are some of the latest scams:
- Live-Calling– These callers are looking for users to give up their personal information. Included in this type of scam is:
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- Imposter- Impersonating a government agency such as the Social Security Administration or the IRS
- Debt relief and credit repair- offering to lower your interest rate or fix your credit
- Charity- requesting donations for disaster relief efforts
- Business and Investment opportunities- offering to help start your own business
- “Free” trials that later bill monthly
- Prize and lottery- caller informs you of the cost of taxes or registration fees on the prize won, however, once the fees are paid no prize is awarded
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