CAMDEN — By BRADLY GILL
Staff writer
Steve Word of Merchants and Farmers Bank spoke to the Camden Noon Lions Club on Wednesday at Catherine’s Bistro about some phone frauds and other scams schemes making rounds in the area.
“There are many different types of these schemes out there, but they all have one thing in common: Money,” said Word. “They want your money and/or your information, which is just as valuable.”
Word said that scammers prey on two basic human emotions: Fear and hope.
Scams that prey on fear might target utility costs or claim you have a warrant for your arrest. They might also claim a loved one is in jail and needs money. Word said that scammers hope you will use money in order to make the fraudulent problem go away.
The schemes that rely on Hope function in a way that pretends to rewards targets, such as claiming sweepstakes winnings or work at home scams.
He recommends that people do not:
• Give out information without confirming identity
• Send money via Western Union or Gift Cards
• Cash checks then send proceeds back to the remitter
• Allow someone you have not verified to guide you to a website and or link
• Click on links in emails unless you have verified the sender
• Assume that the person on the other end of the phone/email/message is telling the truth
He instead recommends that you
• Review your monthly bank and credit card statements
• Ask your financial services provider for help and guidance
• Talk to your peers about scam attempts