Orange County Sheriff's Office

When people get scammed, they sometimes hesitate to report what happened because they are embarrassed. However, almost anyone can fall into a sophisticated trap and make a judgment error. Scammers are highly trained, and good at what they do. They take advantage of people by exploiting fear, hooking into a desire for easy money, or manipulating social isolation or loneliness.

First, let’s look at fear scam examples. A person claiming to be a deputy calls, informing you of a warrant for your arrest for missing jury duty. Pay the bond AT ONCE or be in jail by suppertime. Perhaps you open a text from E-ZPass with a final reminder about unpaid tolls. PAY NOW or incur additional fines and face legal action. Maybe you get a call about your grandchild on spring break in a foreign county, now jailed because of bad judgment or hospitalized following a horrific car crash. Wire money WITHOUT DELAY before he or she misses the flight home or dies because of lack of medical care.

If you hear high-pressure scare tactics like these, activate your skepticism. Remember that panic is the enemy of clear thought. Tell the deputy to call you back in 10 minutes. Ask yourself how E-ZPass would have your phone number. Think about why the “jail” or “hospital” called you, not your grandchild’s parent.

One thing is certain. No representative of a legitimate agency will ask for payment in Walmart (or other) gift cards or crypto currency. Hang up on anyone who does. Likewise, no representative from a utility company, financial firm, or government office should have an issue if you ask for a written description of the alleged problem.

Another common ruse is for scammers to look for people willing to forget common sense when faced with a great deal. For example, a scammer might offer to pay $5,000 for a car listed for $3,000 on Facebook Marketplace. Someone might offer to pay thousands of dollars to anyone willing to help him or her claim a large inheritance. In both cases, the scammer counts on the victim being so eager for easy money that he or she will eventually slip and act against his or her own self-interest. The best defense is to remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

I think there is a special place in hell for those who take advantage of elderly, isolated, or lonely people. Some criminals form on-line relationships with teenagers and slowly build trust. Eventually, the scammer asks for and receives sensitive photos which he or she then uses to blackmail the victim. Other scammers target elderly people, perhaps those whose spouse recently died. As daily contact becomes a vital emotional connection, long-distance romance blossoms, soon followed by requests for ever-increasing amounts of money. Eventually, the victim ends up with an empty wallet and a broken heart.

Worldwide, scammers bilked people out of more than an estimated trillion dollars in 2024. Often employed in organized call centers, they receive training, work from a script, and have fake credentials. Some even receive voice coaching to help them either exaggerate or minimize an accent. Unfortunately, artificial intelligence tools are increasing the sophistication of the industry even further.

Although some scammers get caught and serve significant federal prison sentences, these crimes are difficult to prosecute. Call centers are often in other countries where we do not have arrest powers, and collaboration with overseas law enforcement agencies can be a complicated, slow process. Scammers use sophisticated layers of technology, including virtual private networks, encryption, and burner phones. They can make it appear they are calling from a local number, despite being thousands of miles away. They change numbers, networks, and tactics constantly, frustrating law enforcements’ efforts to ascertain patterns and gather sufficient evidence for arrest or conviction. Furthermore, scammers usually require hard-to-trace payment such as gift cards, bitcoin, or wire transfers.

Reporting a scam to law enforcement rarely leads to recovering money, but it is still a good idea. We can help limit the possibility of additional loss by educating victims about next steps to take, including placing alerts with credit bureaus. Additionally, each victim’s experience helps investigators learn new patterns and emerging criminal trends, helping us prevent others from suffering similar losses.

When it comes to scams, prevention is easier than prosecution. Please educate yourself about this growing problem. Share what you learn with family and friends, especially those who might be vulnerable. Watch our Facebook page to learn about increased local activity or new twists on old routines. Call our Community Services Division at 919-245-2921 for more information.

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