Consumers are being contacted by email, spam phone calls, text messages, social media posts, and spoof emails to obtain personal financial information and stealing your money. During this time of COVID -19 when were are working from home, schooling from home, and surfing the Internet more cyber crimes are on the rise.
We are seeing an impact on "all" age groups. Before you open a suspicious email check to see if that is a legitimate email request from a company you are doing business with. If not send it to your "junk" folder and block for future emails. Do no open hyperlinks in emails that you are not expecting.
The top Fraud scams: Online Shopping, travel /vacations, health care, diet products, centers /plans, mobile: text messages, internet information.
The top ID Theft scams: credit card, other ID theft, Government documents or benefits fraud, loan or lease, employment or tax-related, phone or Utilities.
The FTC has released the 2nd Quarter ending June 30th, 2020, Consumer Sentenial "Fraud and ID Theft / Other" report. There is also a detailed report " FTC COVID-19 and Stimulus Report".
I've attached the Michigan reports reflecting the following:
Fraud total as of June 30th, - 7, 189
ID Theft total as of June 30th, '20, - 349,641
FTC COVID-19, and Stimulus Reports:
To access the full reports click the link below:
FTC Sentinel Report 2nd Quarter
FTC COVID-19 and Stimulus (Fraud / ID Theft) report, 9,30,'20
FTC COVID-19, Stimulus Reports
Rich Coleman, PSCC, Pittsfield Twp. DPS/ CPAM
