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BBB in Western Michigan: Phishing scams doubled in 2024

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Better Business Bureau in Western Michigan says reports of phishing scams doubled in 2024.

But despite the increase, online purchase scams remain the top scam type plaguing Western Michigan consumers. The B-B-B also noticed an increase in scammers using Michigan addresses to create a sense of legitimacy. Many of the online ripoffs started on social media, with scammers using flashy ads to entice shoppers to their legitimate-looking websites with deals that often were too good to be true.

Several of the scams involved the purchase of pets.

Here are some details included in a BBB news release:

A Traverse City woman thought she found a Wheaten Terrier in need of adoption through social media. After messaging with the page owner and sharing photos, the woman sent $500, expecting the puppy to be delivered. Shortly after, the woman received another email stating she needed to pay $4,000 to the transportation company via gift card for pet insurance and a climate-controlled crate, which would all be refunded once the puppy arrived. When the woman refused to pay the additional amount, it was revealed the puppy did not exist.

Tips for avoiding Online Purchase Scams:

Research the Company. Check websites like BBB.org for reviews and ratings and look for both positive and negative trends. Authentic, verified reviews can be accessed from a company’s BBB Profile as well.

Visit the brand website directly. Avoid clicking on any links on social media, through email or text. Legitimate deals will still be offered on the actual website.

If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Compare prices with different retailers to see if the deal makes sense.

Avoid unusual payment methods and use digital wallet payment apps with caution. BBB recommends using a credit card, as they can often provide additional protection for questionable charges. Avoid wire transfers, cryptocurrency or gift cards. Check policies of peer-to-peer payment apps and treat any money you spend like cash.

Always see the pet in person first when buying an animal. There are many reputable breeders and shelters near you on bbb.org. Never pay in full for an animal you’ve never seen in person.

Learn how to shop smart online through the BBB Online Shopping HQ.

The second scam type most-reported to BBB in Western Michigan was Phishing scams. Reports of this type of scam doubled in 2024 to the BBB in Western Michigan. Most of these came by text message from scammers claiming there was an issue with package delivery. Others claimed the recipient had outstanding toll charges. The messages entice readers to click a link with risks including downloading malware, or lead to phony sites looking to steal payment information.

Tips to avoid Phishing scams:

If something sounds suspicious, call the company directly or check the company website directly. Don’t click on links in an unexpected email or text – type the URL for the company into the browser or do a web search to find the right website.

Don’t click, download, or open anything that comes from an anonymous sender. This is likely an attempt to gain access to your personal information or install malware on your device.

Question generic messages. Scammers cast a wide net by including little or no specific information in their fake messages. Always be wary of unsolicited messages that don't contain your name, last digits of your account number or other personalizing information.

Reports of Employment scams also increased to BBB in Western Michigan in 2024. Job seekers were contacted through various means, including phone calls, text messages, emails, chat platforms, job sites and social media. Some scammers posted fake job listings on real job listing sites. Scammers sometimes impersonated real companies and even used real employees’ names to appear legitimate.

A Mount Pleasant woman was recruited by a person on an internet messaging app claiming to be with a data optimization company. The woman was offered a job and paid a sign-on bonus in cryptocurrency. She had to put some of her own money into a work account to perform tasks, but was told she could withdrawal her earnings plus her initial deposit later on. She says she made over $3,700 but when it was time to withdrawal her money, there were issues and she was never paid for the work.

Tips to avoid employment scams:

Research companies at BBB.org.

Contact the company and verify the job offer is real. Look up the phone number on the business's website or BBB.org. Do not use contact information given to you in the job offering.

Check the email address to ensure it is connected to the company, not a personal “Gmail” or “Yahoo” address.

Be cautious about providing personal information to unverified recruiters and online applications.

You should never have to pay a company to do a job.

Beware of remote job offerings involving checks, Mystery shopping, re-shipping, check-cashing, and car wrapping.

Be wary of job offers via cold call (or cold-email).

If the pay seems too-good-to-be-true, it probably is.

Avoid Interview processes done strictly over email or chat.


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