JASPER – The Indiana State Police Jasper District is warning residents about a recent increase in reported scams. Troopers are urging citizens to be vigilant and use common sense when approached with unexpected requests for money or personal information.
Once money is in the hands of scammers, the chances of recovery are extremely low, as many scams are difficult to trace and may originate from overseas, hindering prosecution.
The release highlights several prevalent scams currently circulating:
- Hacked Accounts Promoting Cryptocurrency Investments: The “pig butchering scam” involves scammers using hacked social media accounts to promote fake cryptocurrency exchanges. Victims are lured in with promises of high returns, sometimes even seeing initial “earnings,” only to lose their investment when they attempt to withdraw more significant sums.
- Romance & Investment Scams Over Facebook Messenger: Scammers create fake profiles and initiate romantic relationships online, often through Facebook Messenger. After gaining trust, they request money and then disappear.
- Fake Prizes, Sweepstakes, & Lottery Scams: Victims are notified of winning a prize but must pay fees or provide bank information to claim it. This is a classic advance-fee scam.
- “You Have a Warrant” Scams: Scammers impersonate law enforcement, claiming outstanding warrants and demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest. Law enforcement agencies will never request payments over the phone or threaten arrest in this manner.
- “Is This You in This Video?” Link Scams: These Facebook Messenger scams use clickbait tactics, often from compromised accounts, to trick users into clicking on malicious links that lead to fake websites designed to steal login credentials or infect devices with malware.
The Indiana State Police emphasize that these are just a few examples of the numerous scams circulating. They advise that if you suspect you have been a scam victim, you should immediately contact your bank or financial institution to report the fraud, freeze affected accounts, and attempt to stop pending transactions. You should also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online or by phone and consider placing a credit freeze to protect your identity.
Key Red Flags:
- Requests for large sums of cash.
- Instructions to withdraw cash for pickup.
- Demands for payment via gift cards.
Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
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