Update, Feb. 18, 2025 / A Scam Awareness webinar is set to begin at noon on Wed., Feb. 12. It is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. A link to the webinar is available at www.naperville.il.us/ScamAwareness or by clicking here. Residents who do not have the Zoom application downloaded on their device will be able to view the webinar using their internet browser by clicking the “Join from your browser” option. A recording of the webinar will be made available on the City’s website after-the-fact for individuals who are not able to attend but are interested in learning more about this critical topic.
Original Post, Feb. 12, 2025 / Naperville residents reported losing more than $5.5 million to various scams in 2024. The most common scams that have been reported are tech support, online resale commerce (e.g. Facebook Marketplace), fake warrants, phishing and investment scams. Cryptocurrency investment scams resulted in the highest monetary loss.
Here are some warning signs and tips regarding what you should or shouldn’t do if confronted with any of these common scenarios.
- A pop up appears on your computer indicating there is a virus. Do not attempt to click on any part of the pop-up or follow the instructions contained within it (such as to call a phone number). Close your browser and run a full scan with your legitimate antivirus software to check for actual infections. Never provide personal information, call numbers or click links in a suspicious pop-up, or allow anyone remote access to your device.
- Someone calls saying they are from a government agency, threatens you or demands money to satisfy a warrant, a fine, or to post bond for a relative in jail. The government doesn’t call to ask for money, nor do they take cryptocurrency or gift cards for payment.
- Scammers pose as both fake sellers and fake buyers on online resale commerce platforms to steal your money. Scammers pretend to make fake payments, sell fake items, ask for deposits, and request personal information. Personal information such as your phone number or email address could be used to steal your identity, hack your email or computer, or access your peer-to-peer (Zelle/Venmo) payment account.
- You get an email, text, or call advising there is a problem with your credit card, bank account, Amazon account or Social Security Number. Never click on any links or give personal information to anyone who contacts you and asks for it. Always independently verify with your own records the contact information for any business or government entity if you think there is an issue.
- Someone says you can “only” pay in a specific way such as cryptocurrency or a gift card. No legitimate business or government agency is going to direct you to pay in this form.
- Someone promises a high return on a cryptocurrency investment. Consumers should be cautious of investing in cryptocurrency, which is highly volatile and largely unregulated. If a cryptocurrency investment seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware that you will not be able to reverse a cryptocurrency transaction and get your money back.
For more information on frauds and scams and how to not fall victim to them, visit www.naperville.il.us/ASaferNaper.
Until next month… Stay Aware and Stay Safe.
