Recap: 4/26/25 General Meeting - Trends in Local Frauds & Scams

Thanks to all the Pi members who participated in our April meeting on Saturday!  Many thanks to Louis Levy, Esq, who provided a very helpful overview of all the scams currently operating as well as the ways to avoid, and sources if you respond.  But if you did, just know that you are far from alone!  
 
So everyone, before I go further, please tell all your family and friends to watch out for the E-ZPass texts!!  These text message scams, called Smishing, are on the rise.
 
Several basic takeaways from the meeting:
1) Hang up the phone and don't worry about politeness if it's someone claiming to be from:  your bank, a government agency, a company you know, or a relative you haven't heard from in a while.  Then call them back, but using your own information and NOT info from the call.  This goes for emails and texts also: NEVER use the info in that content to try to verify the claimed problem.  And, says Lou Levy, don't google for the real web page, government agency, etc - because those bring up scam phone numbers and email addresses also.  Instead, look at your bank statement, the back of your credit card, and the like, e.g. for the actual phone numbers to call.
 
2) If anyone in a call, text, or email mentions payments in gift cards or crypto currency, terminate the communication immediately. 
 
3) One giveaway in phishing, smishing, or the like is a feigned sense of urgency - you MUST - e.g. fix the EZyPass balance, immediately on pain of worse things.  Never succumb to this feigned sense of urgency; instead, get the skepticism going!
 
Here's an amusing but helpful FTC list of "things only scammers will say":

• • “Act now!” That’s a scam. Scammers use pressure, so you don’t have time to think. But pressuring you to act now is always a sign of a scam. It’s also a reason to stop.
  • “Only say what I tell you to say.” That’s a scam. The minute someone tells you to lie to anyone — including bank tellers or investment brokers — stop. It’s a scam.
  • “Don’t trust anyone. They’re in on it.” That’s a scam. Scammers want to cut you off from anyone who might slow you down.
  • “Do [this] or you’ll be arrested.” That’s a scam. Any threat like this is a lie. Nobody needs money or information to keep you out of jail, keep you from being deported, or avoid bigger fines. They’re all scams.
  • “Don’t hang up.” That’s a scam. If someone wants to keep you on the phone while you go withdraw or transfer money, buy gift cards, or anything else they’re asking you to do: that’s a scammer. DO hang up.

If you missed the meeting, here's the YouTube link so you can watch it.   https://youtube.com/live/1YKJHcOpWk8