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Scammers are becoming more advanced in their methods to scam the public. Scammers are now using AI (artificial intelligence) technology to create fake caller ID (caller ID spoofing) numbers and impersonate law enforcement or officials over the phone in an effort to obtain money from individuals.
The WBMA News reported that a recent incident in Etowah County, Alabama demonstrates how convincing these scammers can be. In this example, a caller pretending to be an “Etowah County Sheriff’s Deputy” called the victim and knew the victim’s name, juror dates, and phone number, as the caller was displaying the “Etowah County Sheriff’s Office” phone number on the victim’s caller ID display. The scammer proceeded to threaten the victim with legal action and demanded that the victim send money for bail. The victim was subjected to 40 minutes of pressure to send money before realizing that they were being scammed.
WBMA News reports that local law enforcement agencies, including the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office and other surrounding counties, have issued numerous warnings to the public regarding fake phone calls and that law enforcement will NEVER call or demand to send money for fines, bail, prepaid debit cards, and/or any other reason.
According to Carl Bates, President of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in the local area, many of the new scams reported are not sporadic and amateur; rather, many of the new scams are actually elaborate schemes with organized, nationwide criminal networks of individuals who have either acquired, purchased, or stolen individuals’ personal data and who then use AI voice cloning technology and caller ID spoofing to perpetrate their crimes to acquire funds from victims.
Experts encourage consumers to be vigilant and to take precautions when receiving unexpected telephone calls requesting to send money for bail or fines, even if the caller ID display shows a legitimate business.
When receiving unsolicited telephone calls requesting to send money based on fear or urgency, victims should not share personal information or send money based on the caller’s request.
If you are in doubt if the telephone call you received is authentic, you should hang up the telephone and call the business back using their verified phone number, which can generally be found on the business’s website.
Additionally, if you are uncertain about the validity of the telephone call, you should contact a trusted individual for their opinion or advice. Scammers often use surprise and pressure tactics to convince their victims to send money quickly without giving their victims an opportunity to think about what they are doing.
As advances in technology allow scams to become more credible, the best way for you to protect yourself is to remain vigilant and be aware of the types of scams being perpetrated in this day and age.
Always be cautious and do not allow yourself to feel pressured or fearful, as this will result in a poor decision.
