Scams, together with id theft, phishing, and digital fraud, are experiencing an upward development nationwide. Just lately the Federal Commerce Fee reported a 70 p.c enhance in fraud between 2020 and 2021.
Right here in Minnesota, residents lose over $30 million to scams yearly, in accordance with the Minnesota Division of Public Security. Minnesota’s most typical scams embrace overseas lottery schemes, phony prize promotions, advance-fee loans, journey provide scams, and pointless bank card loss “safety.”
Marja Erickson, assistant vice chairman on the Grand Marais State Financial institution, mentioned a couple of present scams are circulating all through the Cook dinner County area. On Nov. 10, the Grand Marais State Financial institution posted an instance of a textual content message rip-off on its Fb web page to tell the general public.
The textual content message features a cellphone quantity to name with an exclamation level and a message that reads, ‘Your Debit.Card have been locked!’ together with an account id quantity.
“This isn’t us or anybody that we all know,” Erickson mentioned.
She added, “Whenever you get a textual content message that may be very pressing and saying ‘that you must name proper now’ and ‘name this quantity.’ Don’t do this. Name us immediately. who we’re. We’re pleased to reply the cellphone and handle any points for you.”
Along with the circulating textual content message rip-off, Erickson mentioned some Cook dinner County residents not too long ago acquired a rip-off letter about an expiring dwelling guarantee.
Erickson mentioned if you happen to obtain a textual content message, cellphone name, or letter within the mail, there are some simply identifiable pink flags to maintain a watch out for. She mentioned firstly to search for misspellings and punctuation. One other pink flag is a way of urgency.
“If it’s actually pressing, plenty of exclamation factors and do that now. Once more, that must be a pink flag to take a look at who the sender is,” Erickson mentioned. One other scammer tactic is to painting an authority determine or to craft an emotional story to solicit cash.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Marja Erickson, assistant vice chairman, to study extra about present rip-off messages and ways in Cook dinner County. Audio from the interview is beneath.
