New year, new beginnings, but same online scams that are aimed at ripping off Bellevue community members.
Throughout a calendar year, Bellevue Police hear from residents about an incident where they were pressured to mail or wire money in exchange for cryptocurrency investments, a service, a prize, or in some cases, protecting themselves from public embarrassment.
Image of a recent scam impacting Bellevue community members.
Here are the top five tips Bellevue Police recommend when looking for scams:
They use social media to gain your trust.
The new trend for scammers is using texting, dating sites, or social media to connect directly with victims. They form a personal connection with the victim, and then convince them to deposit more and more money into an “investment” – usually a cryptocurrency pitch. This practice happens over and over until the victim withdrawals all their earnings. This tactic is called “pig butchering.”
They pretend to be from an organization that you know.
Scammers often say that they are contacting you on behalf of some form of local, state, or federal government (Internal Revenue Service), a company (T-Mobile), or represent a particular government program (Medicare, Social Security). They may even pretend to be from a utility company or a charity asking for donations.
Remember: Organizations like a police department, a utility company or even the IRS will NEVER threaten to put you in jail, hurt your family, or deport you if you don’t comply. This is a true sign of a scam.
They say there’s a problem or a prize.
If there’s a “problem”: Scammers might start their message by saying you are in trouble with the government, there is a problem with one of your accounts, or that you owe money. They may even say someone in your family had an emergency or virus on your computer. Then, they ask you to verify personal, sensitive information associated with your accounts/identity.
If there’s a “prize”: Scammers may begin their message by saying you have won money in a lottery or sweepstakes. But to claim your prize, you must pay a fee or buy gift cards to get it.
They PRESSURE you to act immediately.
Scammers win when they keep you on your toes. So, they will use tactics that will get you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, litigation, or various licenses you may have – whether it be a driver’s or business license. They may even threaten to deport you.
They tell you to PAY in a specific way.
Finally, scammers often insist that you pay them by sending money through a transfer company or putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back of the card. Some may send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money.
Scams may sound scary. However, the Bellevue Police Department believes you can avoid scams by following these simple rules:
- Block unwanted calls and text messages,
- Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect,
- Resist the pressure to respond immediately,
- Check the sender’s email address and verify source of the email,
- Use an URL checker tool, and
- Stop and talk to someone you trust before you do anything else. Talking about it with a friend or loved one could help you realize it’s a scam.
Should any community member become a victim of a scam, they are asked to contact the Bellevue Police Department at 425-577-5656 and then immediately report the scam to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI provides a full list of potential scams that could impact community members across Bellevue and the entire Puget Sound region.
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