Scamming is a scheme as old as time but many people still don’t know the telltale signs to lookout for or when they may be falling victim to the crime.
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According to officials with the Federal Trade Commission, scammers are actively targeting every community, every day, in many different ways.
Recently, the FTC has been emphasizing the importance of getting information about scams to residents as a crucial defense mechanism against these fraudulent activities. They say information is one of the most powerful weapons people have to protect themselves and their families against scams.
Last week, Houston Ethnic Media partnered with the FTC to provide community influencers and leaders with the most up-to-date information about the scams targeting communities, including immigrants, communities of color, young people, and older adults across Houston.
“People reported losing $10 BILLION to fraud, and that’s a substantial increase from the previous year. In fact, 1 out of 4 people who reported fraud to the FTC in 2023 also reported losing money,” said co-host Rosario Mendez with the FTC.
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The event aimed to equip leaders with the knowledge they need to spread awareness and protect their communities from becoming victims.
During the briefing, experts highlighted several prevalent scams, such as imposter scams, where fraudsters pretend to be someone trustworthy, like a government official or a family member in distress.
“Verify, verify, verify!” said Executive Assistant US Attorney of the Southern District of Texas Krystal Walker. “If you care about your money - verify that you’re sending it to the right place and that you’re sending it to the right person. Don’t be afraid to ask.”
They also discussed the rise in phishing scams, where individuals receive deceptive emails or messages designed to steal personal information.
Additionally, the briefing shed light on more sophisticated schemes, including investment scams that target young professionals and romance scams that often exploit older adults.
The importance of cross-community communication and vigilance was emphasized, as scammers frequently adapt their tactics to exploit specific vulnerabilities within different demographic groups.
“There are tons of examples of what our clients go through. Underserved, under-resourced communities with people that may have language barriers, that have other challenges that they’re dealing with, sometimes they’re desperate to get whatever resource or whatever help they can get and so they end up being vulnerable providing information that they typically would not,” said Executive Director of SERJobs & Financial Empowerment Center Sheroo Mukhtiar.
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By sharing this information, the FTC and the Houston Ethnic Media Briefing hope to create a ripple effect, empowering individuals to recognize and report scams. This collective effort aims to reduce the incidence of fraud and protect the financial and emotional well-being of Houston’s diverse communities.
“We’re in this together,” said Managing Attorney of Lone Star Legal Aid for Fort Bend Tariq Gladney. “Scams can lead to financial ruin and loss of homes and if you think about the wealth gap and more people falling into poverty, it is something that society as a whole should be concerned about.”