February is the’month of love’ in Michigan, and many people spend Valentine’s Day with friends or a significant other. However, officials warn that criminals may use this day to prey on potential victims in the Great Lakes state.
Valentine’s Day in Michigan provides an excellent opportunity for couples, loved ones, and friends to express their love through dinner dates, gifts, and other activities.
According to the United States Department of Homeland Security, this is an ideal time for thieves to steal money and personal information. However, authorities warn that these scams do not only target people looking for love on Valentine’s Day.
Romance scams with new twists have been reported in Michigan, and they have the potential to affect everyone. According to the US Secret Service, romance scammers create fictitious online profiles and attempt to establish phony emotional attachments until a potential victim feels comfortable sending them money.
Some criminals have begun to use AI techniques to craft text messages and create photos and videos of people who appear and sound realistic.
Homeland Security warns that these criminals are particularly targeting the elderly, those in difficult relationships, and those who are emotionally vulnerable. HSI discusses the most effective ways to avoid financial loss and emotional harm:
- Listen to your gut. If the individual seems too good to be true, they probably are.
- Do not overshare personal information. Requests for inappropriate photos or financial information could later be used to extort you.
- Do not send money. Never send money, gift cards, or anything of value to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
5 Dangerous Phone Numbers Michigan Residents Should Block Now
(865) 630-4266
The Knoxville, TN number has been linked to a scam in which the victim is told to call immediately because their debit card has been locked due to fraudulent activity.
If you are a Wells Fargo customer, you may be tempted to call the number or click the link they provided to report the fraudulent activity. Do not do that. Call the customer service number on your card or visit a branch to ask your questions.
(469) 709-7630
If you live in a confusing apartment complex or have packages delivered to your suite in a large office building, this may appear legitimate to you. It’s a text message informing you that there was a failed delivery and that you should call this number to resolve the issue.
We’d like you to pause and consider whether you were expecting a package and why the text from this Dallas area code doesn’t specify which carrier they’re using. However, we are writing this during the holidays, and we completely understand why you would do this to ensure that your packages arrive on time.
(805) 637-7243
(858) 605-9622
This is very similar to the Wells Fargo scam we discussed earlier, with the exception that the bank changes. One day, your Chase account was compromised. Another day, PNC and Wells Fargo were both used.
By selecting popular national bank bands that are available nationwide, they are betting that you have an account with one of them and call this San Diego-based number. Don’t do it unless you’re really looking for fraudulent activity on your account.
863) 532-7969
If you’ve always managed to avoid credit cards, this is the bank scam for you. It’s looking for people who pay with debit cards instead. Like the other scams, it informs you that your account has been frozen.
Unlike the others, it does not mention a specific bank because they are banking on the fact that nearly every American owns a debit card. The Florida-based number is not associated with any reputable bank.
