Moose Lake, MN area residents fall victim to on-line scams

In recent weeks several people in the area have lost thousands of dollars to scammers and the chances are they may never be reunited with their hard earned cash.
One involved the purchase of a boat.  As the story was related to me secondhand, the seller was in another state but needed payment upfront. The buyer was asked to send cash cards. The cards were sent. The boat never materialized.
According to the FBI non-delivery of merchandise is a common internet fraud.

Another recent scam involved a security breech notice on a home computer.  In this case, the victim was eventually convinced to send a bank routing and account number to help pay for a security fix to protect from dangerous breeches.  The thief ended up draining money out of the bank account.
According to the Federal Government scam artists defraud millions of people each year by using internet services or software with internet access to trick victims into sending money or giving out personal information.

It’s no longer just the prince in a foreign county seeking to transfer his fortune to your bank account to protect his assets.  With millions of dollars at stake on-line and telephone scammers have become very sophisticated in their efforts.
If you have a phone, if you have a computer connected to the web---you are at risk of being separated from your hard earned cash.
Bottom line:

1. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, consult an expert — or just tell a friend.
2. Don’t pay up front for a promise.

Here are some links to learn more about how to protect your family from Scams and Frauds

https://www.usa.gov/scams-and-frauds

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/guide-to-preventing-fraud.html

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/taxonomy/term/871