Not to worry. Criminal enterprises are ready to persuade you that they have a guaranteed way for you to invest and earn big money without any risk.
Rising inflation makes con artists jump for joy because they know frightened investors are more likely to fall for scams involving gold, cryptocurrencies, foreign currencies or fake investment opportunities.
You don’t need to answer that, because swindlers know you are. And they will — if they haven’t already — call or contact you via your social media accounts. They will send you emails or text messages about where to find cheaper gas prices, or how to invest to take advantage of rising prices at the pump.
Data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that consumers reported fraud losses of more than $5.8 billion in 2021, an increase of more than 70 percent from a year earlier.
For one week of every year — it’s March 6 to 12 this year — state, federal and local law enforcement agencies and consumer groups focus heavily on fraud as part of National Consumer Protection Week. They plan talks, webinars and blog posts with warnings and tips on how to avoid scams.
It’s a valiant effort to save folks from fraudsters, but it’s like killing cockroaches. The criminals, often with evolving scripts shaped by current events, are nearly impossible to eradicate, because they’ve found a suitable environment to thrive — social media platforms.
Recently, a…
