Perfect timing, as I'm currently in the throes of someone trying to scam me. This person "hired" me to do some basic ghostwriting. It all seemed legit until he said the check was on its way, weeks before our agreed-upon deadline (and before I'd even filed anything to him), and that it should arrive today by noon.
Someone should tell this person that 90% of freelance work is chasing payments, not having them arrive in your mailbox weeks before the work is due.
Thank you for this! My husband is a clergyperson and scammers have spoofed an email address that seems like it would be him to send emails to parishioners asking for money (or gift cards). One went out recently and the only way I recognized it as a scam when he sent me the screenshot was the email address was one he’d never use. But he had several parishioners contacted him not because they were worried it was a scam but because they were worried about him—the email said there was an emergency he needed their help with. He’s had to announce multiple times (as well as communicating it in the newsletter, etc) that he will NEVER reach out the parishioners for personal financial assistance and that all authentic overtures will be announced so people will expect them.
This was a good run down! There’s also housing scams - lots of people pretending to lease apartments and when you’re interested they ask you to wire money to hold your spot. I always wonder who’s behind these scams, where they live and what they’re doing in the world. So sad.
Random texts from random people who want to sincerely know how I'm doing are my favorite. My snarky, semi-clever comebacks don't get used as I never rise to the bait. I'm sure there are plenty who do, though --> chomp! 😜
Thanks for a very helpful piece that many need to see ... re-stacking!
Those are very temping to respond to just to mess with them and waste their time! Not worth it though. When you respond you open yourself up to more scams and waste your own time in the process!
Romance Scams are increasingly common now. I was the victim of one just before I figured out what was occurring. Love bombing and the sneaky way “he” or “they” had me reveal my birthday after I stupidly gave my email address which didn’t have my name as the email address but gave my name on send. I am so scared …I was so captivated by that suave, sexy sounding, empathetic European guy speaking fluent but broken English I was in tears by the time I broke it off. They are beyond skilled in romantic seduction. I wondered how he could say the right things and evoke the right feelings. I have since learned they follow a script and use AI to overwhelm you…I am smarter but I understand I am still vulnerable to scammers …Ladies beware…
Thanks so much for this article - it is so needed out there! Too many people think it will never happen to them. Ironically they are the most at risk with that attitude! I work hard to not only get the information out there to make sure people are educated and informed but also to change the way people think (and talk) about victims.
Thanks for this piece! I got taken in by a gift card scam recently and thankfully didn't actually fully lose my money but I lost a lot of time and dignity.
The scary part isn’t just the tech it’s how urgency short-circuits judgment. Once a voice sounds real and the situation feels immediate, even smart people can be pushed past their normal safeguards. This feels less like a “be smarter” problem and more like a systems problem we haven’t caught up to yet. Love the article!
Perfect timing, as I'm currently in the throes of someone trying to scam me. This person "hired" me to do some basic ghostwriting. It all seemed legit until he said the check was on its way, weeks before our agreed-upon deadline (and before I'd even filed anything to him), and that it should arrive today by noon.
Someone should tell this person that 90% of freelance work is chasing payments, not having them arrive in your mailbox weeks before the work is due.
Here's my post on how to spot fake employers -> https://digitalmark.substack.com/p/from-fake-job-offers-to-identity
Thank you for this! My husband is a clergyperson and scammers have spoofed an email address that seems like it would be him to send emails to parishioners asking for money (or gift cards). One went out recently and the only way I recognized it as a scam when he sent me the screenshot was the email address was one he’d never use. But he had several parishioners contacted him not because they were worried it was a scam but because they were worried about him—the email said there was an emergency he needed their help with. He’s had to announce multiple times (as well as communicating it in the newsletter, etc) that he will NEVER reach out the parishioners for personal financial assistance and that all authentic overtures will be announced so people will expect them.
Ugh, that's so so so awful. People often get pulled into scams because they think they are helping someone they care about.
wow that's awful!
This was a good run down! There’s also housing scams - lots of people pretending to lease apartments and when you’re interested they ask you to wire money to hold your spot. I always wonder who’s behind these scams, where they live and what they’re doing in the world. So sad.
Random texts from random people who want to sincerely know how I'm doing are my favorite. My snarky, semi-clever comebacks don't get used as I never rise to the bait. I'm sure there are plenty who do, though --> chomp! 😜
Thanks for a very helpful piece that many need to see ... re-stacking!
~~ Doc
I'm always so tempted to reply and stick it to them!
Those are very temping to respond to just to mess with them and waste their time! Not worth it though. When you respond you open yourself up to more scams and waste your own time in the process!
Really good. Recommend this!
Romance Scams are increasingly common now. I was the victim of one just before I figured out what was occurring. Love bombing and the sneaky way “he” or “they” had me reveal my birthday after I stupidly gave my email address which didn’t have my name as the email address but gave my name on send. I am so scared …I was so captivated by that suave, sexy sounding, empathetic European guy speaking fluent but broken English I was in tears by the time I broke it off. They are beyond skilled in romantic seduction. I wondered how he could say the right things and evoke the right feelings. I have since learned they follow a script and use AI to overwhelm you…I am smarter but I understand I am still vulnerable to scammers …Ladies beware…
Thanks so much for this article - it is so needed out there! Too many people think it will never happen to them. Ironically they are the most at risk with that attitude! I work hard to not only get the information out there to make sure people are educated and informed but also to change the way people think (and talk) about victims.
Totally <3 Thanks for spreading the word.
Definitely! Very important information to get out there especially for victims who are feeling ashamed or who receive unkind comments.
Thanks for this piece! I got taken in by a gift card scam recently and thankfully didn't actually fully lose my money but I lost a lot of time and dignity.
So sorry that happened. It's awful out there.
The scary part isn’t just the tech it’s how urgency short-circuits judgment. Once a voice sounds real and the situation feels immediate, even smart people can be pushed past their normal safeguards. This feels less like a “be smarter” problem and more like a systems problem we haven’t caught up to yet. Love the article!
Good article.
In case you want to read about scams, I wrote extensible about them ranging from Netflix scams to Employment scams and Identity Theft.