I can't believe I'm posting this because I would think most wouldn't fall for this, but my closest friend actually did so I'll pass this along to you all in case one of you feels compelled to 'help a soldier'. On facebook, instagram, twitter, and other social media outlets, people are posing as soldiers and are claiming to be deployed. They typically have poor grammar and their origins are usually from the African continent. Here's how they usually get you: 1. They direct message claiming to be a US soldier in the Army (They usually even give the unit). 2. They will say that they've been deployed for quite some time and lost some friends along the way 3. They claim they cannot get ahold of their family member (usually list a name of someone who doesn't exist) 4. They give a reason for you to transfer a couple thousand dollars through western union 5. They disappear once someone does transfer money It's usually very quick, and they are very pushy. If you say no, they'll leave you alone. Once again, I don't feel like anyone here is going to fall for these scams, just be aware in case someone you know talks about giving money to a soldier overseas...
Nothing good comes in over the phone, facebook, instagram, twitter, and other social media outlets unless you already know the person you're dealing with face to face for awhile.
Exactly. There's also a scam I've been hearing about where an automated message comes to your phone and says you owe the IRS money. It also tells you that a warrant is out for your arrest and they are tracking you. It gives you a number to call and you have to 'immediately' wire the money for the warrant to be removed. It's a pretty intense call from what I understand from my LEO friends, but it's totally fake. At one point, if you call the number, the person (the person who answers is using a voice scrambler) says that "you can pay cash by going to such and such address", and people actually do it. Watch out for that too
