3 Scam Trends New England Consumers Should Watch Right Now

The latest BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report highlights several areas consumers should be especially cautious about, including investment and cryptocurrency scams, employment scams and fraud that begins through text messages or social media.

Here are three trends I want consumers across Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont paying attention to right now.

1. Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams

Investment and cryptocurrency scams remain among the riskiest scams reported to BBB.

These schemes can begin with a social media message, online relationship, unsolicited investment tip or someone promising unusually high returns with little or no risk.

In some cases, victims are shown fake account balances or supposed profits to make the investment appear legitimate. When they try to withdraw the money, they may be told they need to pay additional fees or taxes first.

How to protect yourself:

Be skeptical of guaranteed returns or pressure to invest immediately.

Research any investment opportunity independently before sending money.

Do not rely solely on websites, screenshots or account information provided by the person encouraging you to invest.

And be especially cautious when someone you have only met online suddenly begins giving you financial advice.

2. Fake Jobs and Work-From-Home Opportunities

Employment scams continue to be a significant concern, particularly for younger adults and people searching for remote or flexible work.

One increasingly common version involves so-called “task jobs.”

A consumer may receive an unexpected text offering easy work from home, such as rating products, liking videos or completing simple online tasks.

The scammer may even send a small payment at first.

Eventually, however, the worker is told they must deposit their own money to continue, unlock additional tasks or withdraw their supposed earnings.

That is a major red flag.

How to protect yourself:

Confirm that the job is actually listed on the employer’s official website.

Contact the company independently rather than relying on the phone number, email address or website provided by the recruiter.

Never pay money to receive wages you supposedly earned.

And do not provide banking information, Social Security numbers or other sensitive information until you have verified the employer.

3. Scams Arriving by Text and Social Media

More scams are beginning through text messages and social media.

That could include a fake delivery notification, bank alert, unpaid toll message, government notice, job offer or message claiming there is a problem with one of your accounts.

The message may look legitimate and may even use a familiar company’s name or logo.

Consumers should remember that logos, caller ID information and professional-looking websites can all be copied.

How to protect yourself:

Do not click an unexpected link simply because a message appears urgent.

Instead, go directly to the company’s official website or app.

If the message claims to be from your bank, call the number on the back of your card.

If it claims to be from a business or government agency, independently locate the organization’s contact information.

Do not let the person contacting you control how you verify them.

One Simple Rule: If Someone Is Rushing You, Slow Down

Many scams rely on urgency.

You are told your account will be closed.

Your package cannot be delivered.

You will lose the investment opportunity.

The job will go to someone else.

You need to pay immediately.

That sense of urgency is exactly when consumers should stop.

My advice is simple:

Pause. Verify independently. Then act.

Consumers should also report suspected scams, even if they did not lose money. Those reports can help identify emerging patterns and warn others before they become victims.

Scammers constantly change their tactics. Talking openly about what we are seeing remains one of the best ways to make those tactics less effective.