Online scams aim to trick you out of your money

<p>A number of scams are targeting web users with fraudulent schemes that promote fake websites that closely mimic real ones.</p>

News 12 Staff

Mar 21, 2018, 1:38 AM

Updated 2,228 days ago

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A number of scams are targeting web users with fraudulent schemes that promote fake websites that closely mimic real ones.
For example, a Google search seeking Amazon's customer service hotline might turn up fake results at the top of the list.
Security experts say users who call the fake hotline and share personal information will become victims.
Last year in the Bronx, the family of a man who streamed his own suicide on Facebook sought to have the video taken down. So they used Google to find Facebook's customer service line.
The problem is that Facebook doesn't have one -- and a scam artist on the other end tried to convince a grieving relative to pay a fee to have the video taken down.
Facebook says not only does it not have a customer support number, it wouldn't ask for money or access to your account.
Yet another Facebook scam involves crooks stealing images and the name of a real person for a new account. They then add the real person's friends and hit them up asking for money.
People who do become victims of an online scam can report it to the Federal Trade Commission, but it's better to be safe than sorry, and users should approach requests for money with skepticism.


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