“I Will Send An Uber To Collect The Money” In New Money Collection Scams

How Seniors Are Being Saved From Money Collection Scams Thanks To New Technology

Major courier companies are developing tracking algorithms to spot fraudulent money collection scams and report these pickups to local police.

Portion Courtesy of Florida’s FOX35

The Evolution Of New Money Collection Scams

Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to trick people out of their hard-earned money. One of the latest trends is using real or fake couriers like Federal Express and Uber to pick up money from scam victims.

This type of scam typically involves a fraudulent call or email from someone pretending to be a government official, law enforcement officer, or even a family member in distress. The scammer will claim that the victim owes money for taxes, a fine, bail, emergency medical care, or some other type of urgent debt. They will then instruct the victim to withdraw cash and have them ready to be picked up at the victim’s residence.

Once the victim has the cash, the scammer will provide instructions to have the money picked up by a courier (real or fake). They will claim that this is necessary to expedite the payment and avoid any further legal action.

The victim of these Money Collection Scams will then receive a call or message from someone who is or claims to be a courier from a reputable company like Federal Express or Uber. The courier will instruct the victim to hand over the cash, and they will provide a receipt for the payment. In the case of real couriers, they will not know that it is money, they think they are just picking up a parcel.

In the case of fake couriers, the courier is working with the scammer and is not affiliated with any legitimate company. They will take the money and disappear, leaving the victim with no way to recover their funds. However, often the scammers are using real services, such as UPS, FedEx, and even Uber to take the money to the scammer or to a money mule.

Money Collection Scams victims now have a new tool helping crack down on scammers and get people their money back.

How These New Money Collection Scams Work

A recent scam happened in Micco, Florida, and started with a phone call. An elderly couple in their late 80s and early 90s was told a family member was in trouble and needed money, so they fell for this common scam – often referred to this as the “grandparents scam.” The couple ended up sending what could have been their life savings to the scammer.

Most stories like this end with the money gone, but now with new technology created by the worldwide car services Uber. Because of their engineers, these victims have a chance at fighting back.

“We just turned the alert on, and one popped up,” said Vince Lisi who’s the Head of Global Security and Investigations for Uber.

Lisi’s team has been tracking these Money Collection Scams for a while now – where a scammer will use ride-share services to send a driver and pick up the money that the victims have been tricked into handing over. Uber engineers just created a new system to track suspicious rides that could be scams, and the first one the technology found happened in Brevard County, Florida.

“It’s sickening what they’re doing,” Lisi added. “If we’re able to support law enforcement and stop it from happening or even help law enforcement solve these crimes, that’s what we’re going to do.”

How Does Uber Intercept These Money Collection Scams?

The company won’t reveal the exact equation/algorithm, so as not to tip off the scammers, but it’s a combination of how the ride was requested, and where it’s going. The fact that it’s not for driving people but a package helped to set off alarm bells in this situation.

How It Happened

In this case, the Uber driver got a call while he was in the car mid-delivery with the package and was told to stop immediately and drive straight to the nearest police station.

“In this case, we were successful in stopping that money drop and actually getting that money back to the victims,” said Tod Goodyear, the public information officer for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

By intercepting the scam so early on, deputies did get the couple’s money back.

“With it happening on the front end and the ride-share company contacting us on the front end, it’s going to really make it a lot easier for us to stop the money from actually getting to the bad guy,” Goodyear concluded.

While there still isn’t an arrest in this specific scam case, deputies are still investigating and have more to go off of since they learned of the crime so early.

Why Do The Scammers Do It?

Scammers may use real couriers like FedEx and Uber to collect and deliver money taken from scam victims because it adds a level of legitimacy and credibility to their scam. By using a well-known and trusted company, scammers can create the impression that the transaction is legitimate and above board, which may help to convince the victim to part with their money.

Furthermore, using a courier service may also help to distance the scammers from the victim and reduce the risk of being caught. If the victim is required to hand over cash in person, the scammers would need to physically meet with the victim, which increases the risk of being identified or caught. By using a courier, the scammers can avoid this risk and maintain a greater degree of anonymity.

Additionally, some couriers may not be aware that they are being used as part of Money Collection Scams. Scammers may pose as legitimate customers and provide fake pickup and delivery instructions to the courier, leading them to believe that they are simply completing a routine delivery.

Overall, using real couriers may be seen as a calculated risk for scammers. While it adds an element of legitimacy and can help to distance the scammer from the victim, it also increases the risk of being caught and prosecuted for fraud.

How To Avoid Money Collection Scams

To avoid falling victim to these Money Collection Scams, it is important to be aware of the red flags. Government agencies and law enforcement officers will never demand payment over the phone or ask for cash as payment. If you receive a call or message requesting payment, take the time to verify the legitimacy of the request before taking any action. Even call your local police and ask them!

If you do fall victim to this type of scam, it is important to report it to your local police immediately. This can help to keep the door open for the recovery of the money, and prevent others from falling victim to the same Money Collection Scams.

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