- ORIGINAL NEWS
How to avoid the top scam of 2023: The internet has ‘really supercharged’ it, expert says
- SUMMARY
Imposter scams, where criminals pretend to be someone trustworthy to trick you into sending money, were the most common type of fraud in 2023.
These scams come in various forms, like fake government officials, friends, or even companies like Amazon or Apple.
To protect yourself, it’s important to pause and verify the person contacting you.
Don’t respond to unsolicited messages, but instead contact the official source directly using trusted phone numbers or website addresses.
Be aware that these scams are often very convincing and can target anyone, especially older adults.
If you’ve been contacted by someone suspicious, take your time, verify their identity, and don’t fall prey to their tactics.
- NEWS SENTIMENT CHECK
- Overall sentiment:
negative
Positive
“The best way for consumers to counter imposter scams is by pausing and verifying that a communication is accurate, according to fraud experts.”
Negative
“Consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud in 2023, and imposter scams were the most prevalent swindle, according to the Federal Trade Commission.”
“Nearly 854,000 people filed complaints to the FTC about imposter scams in 2023. This represents 33% of the total consumer fraud reports filed to the agency.”
“Consumers lost $2.7 billion to such scams in 2023, according to FTC data. The average loss was $800.”