FBI Warning: 5 Scams On The Rise In Michigan

Scams have become a normal part of our lives that we have to protect ourselves from on a daily basis. There are scam artists all over the world that all use different scams to take advantage of people whether it be identity fraud, credit card fraud, or other methods. Since they have become so common, the FBI has been able to send out warnings to keep people safe.

Get our free mobile app

Below are a few of the common scams we see in Michigan and how they work:

Check Washing

The check washing scam is the practice of taking someone's check and changing the name of the payee and the amount to deposit in another account fraudulently. This mostly occurs from checks that are stolen out of mailboxes and washed with chemicals to remove the ink.

Swatting and Doxxing

Swatting is the process of reporting a crime at someone's residence or business and that would warrant the SWAT team to respond. The kicker here is that the threat is not real causing SWAT to waste their time.

Doxxing on the other hand is all about stealing someone's personal information, which means anyone can be a victim of doxxing. Most of the time the scammer would like to be paid in some form of ransom, or they threaten to release this information to the public for anything to happen.

Phishing

Phishing has become the most common scam that has affected us here in Michigan as this can come in form of a text, email, phone call, or even door to door. These are just attempts for people to get your personal information from you or your devices to do whatever with or hold for ransom.

Now, there have been some new scams that have started to become more popular and have caught the eye of the FBI. They have sent out warnings to Michigan and other states about the scams and how to be aware of them. Below are 5 scams the FBI is warning Michigan residents about:

• Charity and Disaster Fraud

  Charity fraud scams can come in many forms: emails, social media posts, crowdfunding platforms, cold calls, etc. They are especially common after high-profile disasters. Always use caution and do your research when you're looking to donate to charitable causes.

• Holiday Scams

  When shopping online during the holiday season—or any time of year—always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and do your part to avoid becoming a scammer’s next victim.

• Cryptocurrency Fraud

  Cryptocurrency investment fraud, which the media commonly describes as pig butchering, is one of the most prevalent and damaging fraud schemes today.

• Election Fraud

  Fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and the FBI is committed to protecting the rights of all Americans to vote. If you suspect a federal election crime, contact the FBI.

• Elder Fraud

  Each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud or confidence scheme. Common scams that target older citizens include romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation scams, sweepstakes and lottery scams, home repair scams, and TV/radio scams.

Be aware of all these scams and others as scammers continue to look for ways to take advantage of people.