Scam Squad

Scmsqd - 2023 - 05 - 06 - Oragnaize Wallet by Hub for Podcasting

With Special Guest, Santa Barbara DA's Victim Advocate, Dayton Aldrich.

After a warning about spoofing, Dayton discusses Artificial Intelligence (AI) Voice Cloning, which scammers are using it to impersonate people.

Scammers often obtain a sample of someone's voice from social media, videos or podcasts. AI can clone a voice with a recording of a dialogue that's only three seconds long. Scammers can then use AI voice cloning services to generate a synthetic version of a person's voice, simply typing what the cloned voice will say. These 'phony' recordings can be used by to swindle CEOs, executives, lawyers and every day people.

Vicki told listeners that recently a mother was terrorized by a con artist who demanded a million dollar ransom--using the cloned voice of her daughter. The mother was convinced that it was her fifteen year old daughter's voice--because even the inflection and crying sounded like her.

Tips to Avoice Voice AI Voice Cloning Scams:

1. Be very skeptical if someone calls and puts pressure on you--even if you think you recognize the voice.

2. Ask questions that only the person it sounds like you're speaking to, could answer.

3. Call back the person it sounds like you're speaking to--don't trust caller ID. Remember, the number may be spoofed.

4. Don't send money. Be very suspicious if you're asked to send gift cards or crypto.

5. Report this scam to law enforcement and warn your family and friends.

If you'd like to talk with Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson, or share your story on Scam Squad, Call the Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.

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Scmsqd - 2023 - 04 - 08 - Dark Web by Hub for Podcasting

Scam Squad Guest, Dr Judy Christman Yates, DPA, Criminologist discusses IRS scams to avoid and the FTC Top Scams of 2022

1. Top Scams of 2022, https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/02/top- scams-2022?utm_source=govdelivery, 2/23/2023 by Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Rayo, Consumer Education Specialist. “The latest FTC data book says people reported losing $8.8 billion to scams.

• Investment scams were huge, with reported losses of $3.8 billion. That’s more than people lost to any other scam, and more than double the loss reported in 2021.

• Impersonator scams were still the most-reported scam, with reported losses of $2.6 billion. The difference this year? Higher losses to business imposters: 2022 losses were $660 million, compared to $453 million in 2021.

• If people paid a scammer, the biggest reported losses were through bank transfers ($1.5 billion reported lost to scams) and cryptocurrency ($1.4 billion reported lost).

• Younger adults (ages 20-29) reported losing money more often than older adults (ages 70-79). But when older adults did lose money, they lost more than anyone else.”

2 IRS [Internal Revenue Service] scams to avoid this year, https://

www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/privacy-security/avoid-tax-scams/, 2/15/2023, Capital One.

Scam Squad Guest, Dr Judy Christman Yates, DPA, Criminologist discusses IRS scams to avoid and the FTC Top Scams of 2022

1. Top Scams of 2022, https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/02/top- scams-2022?utm_source=govdelivery, 2/23/2023 by Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Rayo, Consumer Education Specialist. “The latest FTC data book says people reported losing $8.8 billion to scams.

• Investment scams were huge, with reported losses of $3.8 billion. That’s more than people lost to any other scam, and more than double the loss reported in 2021.

• Impersonator scams were still the most-reported scam, with reported losses of $2.6 billion. The difference this year? Higher losses to business imposters: 2022 losses were $660 million, compared to $453 million in 2021.

• If people paid a scammer, the biggest reported losses were through bank transfers ($1.5 billion reported lost to scams) and cryptocurrency ($1.4 billion reported lost).

• Younger adults (ages 20-29) reported losing money more often than older adults (ages 70-79). But when older adults did lose money, they lost more than anyone else.”

2 IRS [Internal Revenue Service] scams to avoid this year, https://

www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/privacy-security/avoid-tax-scams/, 2/15/2023, Capital One.

“According to the IRS, it doesn’t “initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Here are some common scams to watch out for, according to the IRS:

IRS impersonation scams

• Email phishing: Known as phishing, scammers may ask for personal or financial information from a taxpayer through unsolicited emails.

• IRS scam calls: phishing—scammer makes a call & impersonates IRS.

• IRS text messages: Another form of phishing is smishing. A taxpayer may receive a text message from a fraudulent number claiming to be the IRS.

Other Tax-related scams

• identity theft: uses a taxpayer’s Social Security number (SSN), to file a tax return in a taxpayer’s name.

• Abusive arrangements: Scammers may reach out and tell filers they can earn tax savings if they take part in a complex scheme or arrangement.

• Tax debt settlement companies: Dishonest tax companies might target individuals having trouble paying their taxes.

• Ghost tax preparers: Sometimes scammers pose as tax preparers and offer to help with tax returns. But they won’t sign the return or include a preparer tax identification number (PTIN), which are both required by law.

• Spear phishing: This type of attack is when scammers send an email trying to steal information—like software preparation credentials—from tax professionals.

Shawn Dyer, Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank & Trust, sounds the alarm about check fraud, which is on the rise. She urges people to utilize online banking so they can check the activity of their bank accounts frequently and pull up check images that may have been altered.

She also talks about the Tech Scam, which is still rampant. The scammer pretends to work for a tech company. They tell the victim that they are owed a refund and then accidentally overpay them . In reality, after gaining access to a person's login information, the scammer transfers money from their savings account to their checking account online. When the victim sees the balance, they believe the scammer really did pay them too much. Of course the scammer claims that if the money is not returned, they'll lose their job. The victim is sympathetic and wants to help out. They are instructed to make a cash withdrawal from their bank and deposit it through a bitcoin machine. Don't fall for this scam; your money will be gone forever!

Lastly, Vicki shares some Good News. A Russian Malware Developer who extorted a small fortune from US citizens was extradited to the US where he was convicted and sent to federal prison.

To talk to Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson about a scam or to tell your story on Scam Squad to warn others, call the Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.

In this episode, a woman is almost taken in by the Jury Duty Scam. It's easy to see why. She received a call and the caller ID was spoofed to say it was the Sheriff's Department. The scammers identified themselves by using names of real sheriffs and judges. Plus, the victim occasionally received subpoenas to testify, because she was a medical expert--making it even more believable. They told her that someone had signed for the subpoena and gave her the date and time that it happened. They threatened that if she didn't pay a $10,000 fine immediately, she would go to jail.

Initially, the scare tactics worked. She followed their instructions and went to stores to purchase money packs to give them. The first store limited the number of money packs that she could buy so she went to a second store. Here, the Vons employee told her she was being scammed. Then the woman did something very right. She told the scammer that she was driving to the sheriff's department and she did just that. When she arrived, the Sheriffs confirmed that it was a familiar scam.

Scammers use fear tactics to scare their victims. Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson says that police officers and sherriffs will never call and threaten to arrest you if you miss jury duty. If you get a call like this, don't trust the caller ID. Tell the scammer you'll call them back and then look up the number yourself.

Good News! A group of people who were stealing mail were recently arrested. They were soliciting crooks to help them through social media!

Vicki reminds listeners to avoid using mailboxes to mail out their bills. Get a locked mailbox on your own property. Don't use the blue bins. Instead, walk your mail into the post office and set it on the counter.

It can be very difficult to convince someone that they're involved in a Romance Scam. Here are tips on how to help a friend recogize that the person they think they love is nothing but a scammer.

Doris Roof, Montecito Bank & Trust Fraud Manager, and Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson, give advice on how to use Zelle safely.

Roof reeals that Zelle guidelies are set up by Early Warning Systems. To help prevent fraud, Early Warning Systems is adding more prompts, asking questions such as, "Did you initiate this transaction or did someone else ask you to initiate the transaction?"

Other Zelle Tips include the following:

- Dont send money to people you don't know.

- Confirm the email and/or mobile number when receiving requests or sending money, looking for slight changes, such as an l replaced with an i.

- Look at the entire header and be sure it doesn't originate from overseas.

- If you get a text or email warning saying your account has been hacked, don't reply directly. Instead contact your bank from the number on the back of your bank card.

- Legitimate companies are unlikely to send invoices through Zelle. If you receive a payment request through Zelle, don't trust it.

- Don't reveal anything in response to an unknown text or email. Call yourself to verify its legitimacy.

- Be careful not to reveal two factor verification codes.

Pay Pal Warning! In Maine, 30,000 Pay Pal coounts were hacked. They are advising people to ignore unexpected messages and to reach out directly to Pay Pal to report them. Lastly, they're advising customers to change their password, using 12 + characters and choosing multi-factor authorization.

Good News!

Five defendants were sent to federal prison for receiving, transporting and laundering money with the Grandparent scam. Victims were directed to send money to unoccupied homes across the country and scammers would collect the package, take their share, before sending it off to other scammers overseas.

With Special Guest, Dayton Aldrich, Victim Restitution Specialist

To tell your Story on Scam Squad, contact Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson at 805-568-2442

Recently in Santa Barbara, a couple's Ring Security Camera, which was linked to their phones, let them know that someone was at their door, claiming to be from Door Dash. They were both at work and told the phony Door Dash person that there had been a mistake and that they had not placed an order. This signaled the person that the no one was home and he and his accomplice let themselves in the back door and ramsacked the home. These types of home invasions are happening across the country with crooks claiming to be from Door Dash, Grub Hub, Uber Eats and other delivery companies. This is a new take on an old scam. In addition to food delivery companies, any type of service company who claims they are at your house to work on something you didn't order should arouse your suspicion. Dayton recommends you give one stern warning and then tell them you're calling the police.

Dayton describes simple, Do it Yourself, affordable security items that can help to keep you safe at home. These include home security systems, security cameras, motion detector lights, panic buttons, mail box sensors, and more.

Dayton and Vicki also give warnings about revealing information on social media which can signal criminals that your are out of town so they can rob you -- or give them enough information to steal your identity. They also recommend that everyone consider getting a password manager to create and store unique passwords for each of your accounts.

Scmsqd - 2023 - 02 - 25 - Pig Butchering by Hub for Podcasting