The Better Business Bureau has utilized Scam Tracker to generate a list of the top scams of 2015. Over 10,000 consumers submitted reports that aided investigators in collecting and organizing relevant scam information.
Scam Tracker helps inform consumers of current scams happening in their area in order to prevent continued success of scams. According to the site, here are some of the most common scams of 2015:
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IRS Scam.Consumers receive threatening phone calls from someone claiming to be with the IRS. The caller tells the consumer he owes taxes to the government and will be thrown in jail unless he pays. The IRS says they never call people who owe money; instead, they notify debtors via mail.
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Debt Collections.Fake collection agencies call and claim consumers owe credit card debt. They try to gather personal information such as Social Security and bank account numbers.
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Imposter Scam.Like the IRS scam, fraudsters pose as a federal agent or law enforcement and then contact unsuspecting consumers to try and obtain their personal information. If the scammers succeed, they’re able to steal identities and commit fraud.
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Government Grant.Bogus government staffers call to inform consumers they have qualified for a grant, but processing fees must be paid in advance via wire transfer to receive the funds.
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Tech support.Scammers tell consumers their computers have been hacked and they need to gain access in order to fix it. The scammers end up downloading malware or stealing personal information.
For a more thorough list and info and scams in your area, visit Scam Tracker.
Photo by Don Hankins Flickr CC License
