(Last Updated On: September 6, 2020)

SCARSSCARS SCARS - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. A government registered crime victims' assistance & crime prevention nonprofit organization based in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. SCARS supports the victims of scams worldwide and through its partners in more than 60 countries around the world. Incorporated in 2015, its team has 30 years of continuous experience educating and supporting scam victims. Visit www.AgainstScams.org to learn more about SCARS.™ ScamScam A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime -  is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost. Alert: New Scam Targeting Teens And Young Adults

There Is A Rise In A New Scam Targeting Teens And Young Adults – Especially In The United States & Canada

This extremely damaging scam mainly works when a fraudsterFraudster A Scammer or Fraudster is someone that engages in deception to obtain money or achieve another objective. They are criminals that attempt to deceive a victim into sending more or performing some other activity that benefits the scammer. takes advantage of a victim’s naivety and commits fraudFraud In law, fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain (money or other assets), or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud can violate civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrator to avoid the fraud or recover monetary compensation) or criminal law (e.g., a fraud perpetrator may be prosecuted and imprisoned by governmental authorities), or it may cause no loss of money, property, or legal right but still be an element of another civil or criminal wrong. The purpose of fraud may be monetary gain or other benefits, for example by obtaining a passport, travel document, or driver's license, or mortgage fraud, where the perpetrator may attempt to qualify for a mortgage by way of false statements. A fraud can also be a hoax, which is a distinct concept that involves deliberate deception without the intention of gain or of materially damaging or depriving a victim. in the victim’s name.

Though anyone can be targeted, we are seeing reports that the most common age range of victims are late-teens to young adults. This is thought to be because these groups generally have less of an income stream and are more susceptible to being tricked into giving their information for financial crimes or fraud in exchange for monetary payments or other benefits. In short, they simply do not know any better.

Here Are The Basics Of This Scam:

• A victim is approached by a stranger (or strangers) who offers them a chance to make money.
• The victim is given explicit instructions to open a checking/savings account with a credit union or bank and to give the stranger (fraudster) full access to this account.
• The victim is then assured that nothing illegal is going on and/or that they will not be held responsible for anything the fraudster does with the account information.
• With the account information that was provided to them, the fraudster commits fraud and money launderingMoney laundering Money laundering is the illegal process of concealing the origins of money obtained illegally by passing it through a complex sequence of banking transfers or commercial transactions. Money laundering can be done through various mediums, leveraging a variety of payment vehicles, people and institutions. in the target’s name.
• Though the target may believe they are not liable for the crimes perpetrated by the fraudster, the reality is that they could be held responsible since they willingly allowed someone to use their account.
• This could lead to jail time and/or heavy fines.

Beyond the legal troubles this will bring, giving away your personal information to someone you don’t know can lead to a host of personal/financial troubles (such as identity theftIdentity Theft Identity theft is when someone uses another person's personal identifying information, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. In both the U.K. and the United States it is the theft of personally identifiable information. Identity theft deliberately uses someone else's identity as a method to gain financial advantages or obtain credit and other benefits, and perhaps to cause other person's loss. The person whose identity has been stolen may suffer adverse consequences, especially if they are falsely held responsible for the perpetrator's actions. Personally identifiable information generally includes a person's name, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number, bank account or credit card numbers, PINs, electronic signatures, fingerprints, passwords, or any other information that can be used to access a person's financial resources., for example) which can affect your credit for years to come. Since the most frequent victims of this type of fraud are young people, imagine how someone’s entire life can be altered by an incident like this.

Additionally, if this person is underage then the parents can also be financially liable for any losses. AND if the account is used to defraud others then the parents could be liable to the other victims for their financial losses.

The Best Way To Prevent This Type Of Fraud?

Fraud Specialists say vigilance and knowledge are key.

First, parents MUST talk to teens and young adults about how common fraud and scamsScams A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime -  is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost. are. Do not accept that the teen thinks that they know everything about the internet because they actually know very little. It is important to point out that their actions can affect the parents financially and criminally too!

Protecting Yourself And Your Family Is The First Critical Step

It sounds ridiculous, but no one is trustworthy online, unless you know them and verify them.

No untrusted sources should ever have access to any of your vital financial or personal information such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, or passwords used to access email or online banking.

Be sure to secure this information carefully and understand that willingly giving it to a fraudster could act as permission for them to commit crimes in your name.

Keep an eye out for yourself and others who might be targeted by manipulative scammers.

The money offered can often lead someone to go against their gut and make choices that they normally would not.

Providing awareness and education about this type of fraud is another way to help prevent it. Teach children who to trust when it comes to financial information, and visit your credit union or bank branch to introduce them to those who they can trust with their financial information.

The best way to fight fraud is to report it. When you are the victim of fraud or scams report it to the local police, the national police (such as the FBIFBI FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, the FBI is also a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and reports to both the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence. A leading U.S. counter-terrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal investigative organization, the FBI has jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crimes, including financial fraud., RCMPRCMP The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) // Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC)), colloquially known as the Mounties, and is the federal and national police service of Canada, providing law enforcement at the federal level. The RCMP also provides provincial policing in eight of Canada's provinces (all except Ontario and Quebec) and local policing on a contract basis in the three territories (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon) and more than 150 municipalities, 600 Indigenous communities, and three international airports. The RCMP do not provide active provincial or municipal policing in Ontario or Quebec. However, all members of the RCMP have jurisdiction as a police officer in all provinces and territories of Canada., etc.), and always report it to SCARS www.Anyscam.com for distribution everywhere!

Scams and Bank Fraud can happen to anyone, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Quick, decisive action can save you pain in the long run. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud contact your local law enforcement and then ALSO report it to your financial institution(s) immediately.

Remember These Rules

The SCARS’ ScammerScammer A Scammer or Fraudster is someone that engages in deception to obtain money or achieve another objective. They are criminals that attempt to deceive a victim into sending more or performing some other activity that benefits the scammer.’s Star – How To Identify Fakes & Scammers

 

TAGS: SCARS, Information About Scams, Anti-Scam, Scams, Scammers, Fraudsters, Cybercrime, Crybercriminals, Scam Victims, Financial Crime, Financial Scams, Bank Fraud, Money Laundering, Scammer Account Access

 

 

 

 

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