by Luke Butner

In today’s fast-paced digital world, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, more elaborate, and targeting people of all ages and backgrounds. From phishing emails to fake tech support calls to elaborate deepfake scams, scammers are constantly finding new ways to exploit trust and vulnerability. Thus, raising awareness of scammer tactics is the first line of defense against this rising epidemic.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans reported losing over 10 billion dollars to fraud in 2023, marking a record high. Scammers use a variety of tactics, of which the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lists 19 common scam types. These scams fall under three different subcategories: online, fraud, and election crimes, with online scams being the most common and elaborate. Indeed, the FTC lists four crucial elements to online scams: trust, the promise of a gift or solution to a problem, a sense of urgency, and a form of payment or personal info.

On Sept. 2, an elaborate online email phishing scheme was unleashed on the students and faculty of GC. During this scam, a former GC student’s email was hacked and used to send details of a “Mrs. Juanita” giving away her “late husband’s” expensive items, like a Martin guitar or Apple Vision Pro headset. The late husband in question was a beloved GC professor who recently passed away. Student reports suggest that a few people fell for the scam by leaking personal details or giving money to the scammer.

Breaking down this situation to its four critical elements can help us understand how the scam functioned and help prevent future scams like this. First, the scammer used a reputable student’s email address and the passing of a GC professor to gain trust and empathy. Next, the scammer promised expensive items as a lure to entice people to give into the scam. The scammer then included the line, “THIS EMAIL WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REMOVED FROM YOUR INBOX ONCE ALL REQUESTED ITEMS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT” as a measure to create a sense of urgency and direness to the situation. Lastly, the scammer requested personal addresses and delivery fees for the items that were used for their benefit or gain.

The FTC recommends a few key tips to stay safe: block and report unsolicited messages, calls, and links. Scammers typically spoof emails from trusted organizations or people to gain the trust of their victims. Never share personal or financial data over unsecured channels. Scammers are most often in search of monetary gain; however, some will use personal information for other activities, like money muling or identity theft. Resist the urgent feeling caused by the scammers. They create this sense of urgency to decrease the likelihood that victims will reason or notify others of the ongoing scam. Understand the payment methods scammers use. They typically rely on untraceable methods like cryptocurrency, money wiring, or even buying gift cards. Finally, educate family and friends—especially seniors, who are frequent targets. Protecting others is the best way to put the kibosh on scams.

Staying cautious does not mean living in fear. However, with vigilance and community awareness, we can outsmart scammers and protect our hard-earned money.