SCAM TACTICS
Be prepared for these scammers who prey on people when they are most vulnerable
We can say a lot about scammers.
They’re immoral, criminal scum bags, and there is no line they won’t cross.
Those character traits were on full display recently when several Islanders received text messages claiming to be from Maritime Electric.
The text messages said that Maritime Electric has credited an account due to overbilling or that the customer owes money. The message is followed by a link to a website. These links usually lead to websites that ask for personal and banking information.
Maritime Electric doesn’t send customer billing or account information by text messages.
Another Islander received a text claiming to be from Nova Scotia Power looking for payment in order to turn the power back on.
It looks like these scammers aren’t very smart. In some cases, that may be true. But it is more likely that scammers simply have no morals and will say and do anything to con people out of their money.
That was the case last month when scammers called Ann Stephens, who also happens to be a police captain in North Carolina.
Stephens video-recorded her conversation with the scammer, claiming to be Officer John Black with Social Security Administration. He passes the phone to his supervisor – Officer Jason Brown.
The scammers asked for her home address, the last four digits of her social security number, the number of bank accounts she has as well as the account numbers.
When she refuses, the scammer threatens to suspend her bank accounts and have her arrested for drug trafficking and a $10-million fraud matter.
The scammer then tells her that a sheriff’s deputy is going to arrest her.
Rather than hang up, she keeps the scammers on the line to flush out their scare tactics. Her advice is if contacted by a scammer, don’t verify or disclose any information.
What’s particularly disgusting about the recent P.E.I. scam attempts is that they were sent when people were dealing with the effects and aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. This isn’t a coincidence. This is what scammers do — prey on people when they are most vulnerable. And in this case, being without power for several days can make people vulnerable and even desperate to have services restored.
Scammers saw an opportunity and tried to seize it. Who knows how many people fell victim to this scam? A lot of the time, scam victims are too embarrassed to admit they got conned.
In cases like receiving a text message from a company, whether it is Maritime Electric or a bank or whomever, don’t reveal anything, disconnect, and call the company directly.
And, remember what the experts say — as a general rule, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
There will be more weather events hitting P.E.I., and more con artists trying to scam us out of money during these events. Let’s make sure we’re prepared for both next time.