The "Can You Hear Me?" scam generated tons and tons of consumer complaints in 2017. But what was your real risk of losing any cash?
Most likely, zero.
In contrast, online shoppers likely lost hundreds and even thousands of dollars last year to puppy scams, car buying scams, job scams, overpriced gold and the like, according to2017 BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report released last week.
The BBB Scam Trackerallows consumers an easy way to report scams that target their wallets. (See www.bbb.org/scamtracker.)The crowdsourced data is later reviewed to spot trends and offer deeper insight into all types of fraud, which reportedly represent a $50-billion drain each from consumers and business based on a Financial Fraud Research Center study.
More than 47,000 reports on scams were submitted to the BBB Scam Tracker in 2017,including warnings from consumers who spotted trouble early and did not lose any money.
The Better Business Bureau reported that it received more than 10,000 reports on the "Can You Hear Me?" robocalls from consumers who received the strange calls, responded to a question with a"yes" and then heard silence onthe other end of the line.
The conversation can start out innocently with the recorded call asking things like "Are you the homeowner?" Or simply: "Can you hear me?"
Consumer advocates, including the BBB,had earlier warned that the "yes" voiced by the consumer could somehow trigger unauthorized charges in the future.
But maybe we all worried way too much.
"We could not identify a single credible report with a genuine monetary loss," according to the BBB report.
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Saying yes, of course, can confirm that scammers have a workingphone number. So consumers are wise to simply hang up if they get one of these annoying robocalls.
The scams that present a bigger risk to your wallet includefree trial promotionsfor online deals on cosmetics or skin care products, online outfits selling puppies and kittens, and phony online sales of cars and auto parts.
The digital landscape makes it far easier for scammers to rip you off with a fake deal on jewelry, cell phones, guns, collectibles and even candles.
"Online purchase scams have crept up tremendously," said Melanie Duquesnel, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
She noted that millennial consumers can be more vulnerable to taking the bait for online deals.
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"Most of them have smartphones in their hands," she said.
Senior citizens, by contrast, tend to be more vulnerable to phone call scams.
When it comes to shopping online, many consumers tend to believe that what they're seeing advertised is legitimate,Duquesnel said.
"They think if somebody publishes it on the Web, it must be true," she said.
Many times, she said, consumers don't want to take the time to evaluate whether an ad on Facebook or Craigslist is real. Are the sellers using stock photos, for example, of puppies or kittens that might indicate the deal will go sour.
She recalls one Michigan consumer who lost money after ordering a gift online that never showed up.
"The guy just wanted to buy a gift for his girlfriend and be done," she said.
Men tended to be more vulnerable than women in seven of the top 10 scam categories; and consumers ages 18-24 were the most likely to lose money to a scam, according to the Scam Tracker data.
Nationwide, consumers have reported losses of $1,500 or more on used car scams or scams involving auto parts, according to the Scam Tracker report.
Consumers reported $600 or more to scammers who were reportedly selling pets online, according to the BBB.
One Colorado consumer quoted in the report complained about trying to buy a Teacup shih tzu puppy that she spotted on a website.
She sent $500 via Western Union for the dog. Then, the scammer demanded another $450 for insurance to cover the dog during shipping. That $450 was reportedly "100% refundable and would be given back to me upon delivery of the puppy in hand."
She tried to wire the money but was able to cancel the $450 transaction when she became more suspicious. She never received the shih tzu.
A consumer in Indiana reported buying a $19,000 timeshare with an outfit called "Explore Your World." But once the contract was made in Mazatlan, Mexico, there was no way to contact anyone for a vacation. The couple had a user name and password but discovered they had no way to access the system.
The BBB report indicated that consumers appeared to be less susceptible to scams in 2017. The median dollar loss was $228 in 2017, down 17% from a year earlier.
The BBB report once again pointed out that scammers will try to spoof legitimate companies to make their pitches seem more real. They will threaten you or try to scare you into giving money, too.
Last week, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette warned of robocalls that include threatening consumers with arrest. Some scammers may pretend to be from a government agency and claim there are pending charges.
One message received recently by a Michigan consumer used odd, garbled phrases. It stated:“From the headquarters which will get expired in next 24 working hours. And once it get expired after that you will be taken under custody by the local cops as there are four serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment. We request you to get back to us so that we can discuss this case before taking any legal action against you.”
Best bet: Do not call back.
Consumer watchdogs suggested that consumers should consider using an app mobile phones to block robocalls and likely scams.RoboKillerreceived an award from the Federal Trade Commission, but there are other options, according to the Michigan attorney general's office.
Fear tactics aren't the only method scammers use to steal money. They also can play into someone's dream for finding a good job.
When it comes to employment scams, victims can be led to believe that they have just been hired for a promising new job when the reality is they somehow gave personal information and even money to con artists. To get the job, for example, they might be asked to pay upfront for "training" or "equipment."
In many cases, victims can be "overpaid" with a fake check and then asked to wire back the difference. The victim deposits the check, wires the money and the money is long gone before the victim is told the initial check was a phony and did not clear.
Scammers count on the fact that banks can make funds available within days of a deposit, according to the BBB. But it can much longer to actually detect a fake check.
Students, for example, lost a median of $200, according to BBB data. They were most vulnerable to scams promoting jobs, fake money orders or checks, and online offers that proved too good to be true.
Contact Susan Tompor: stompor@freepress.com or 313-222-8876. Follow Susan on Twitter @Tompor.
