Somebody Hit Your Car

How the scam works:

This is another scam that you might consider too easy to detect, but seniors usually don’t.

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The scammers call their victims and have an approach similar to this: “Sorry to bother you. Today I hit your car by mistake and I want to be honest. I don’t want police coming after me, if somebody saw me. It wasn’t really a serious hit, your car might not even have any scratches or anything, but I was in a hurry to get to the hospital, where my daughter is, and I didn’t have time to wait for you. Sorry”.

If the victims ask how the callers got their phone number (and this doesn’t occur to a lot of people), the scammers say they called the automobile authority in that specific state (DMV in US, AMA in Canada, etc) and told them the story, then asked for their contact.

As most seniors are appreciative of the call, the scammers will proceed with their fraud by telling the victims they are willing to pay them a few hundred dollars, although the scratches might not be even visible. That’s when they tell the seniors they’ll wire the money if provided with the details of their bank account.

How to avoid:

You should never tell anybody your account number or any other financial information for that matter. Scammers have a rich imagination, as well as answers for every question you might have. Take a phone number from them and check it out after. Talk to a couple of members of your family.

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Selma HrynchukSelma is a fraud prevention specialist renowned for her expertise in private eye investigations and a remarkable partnership with law enforcement agencies. Beyond her investigative triumphs, her public speaking engagements and written works have empowered countless individuals to protect themselves and stay ahead of deceptive schemes. Selma's legacy shines as a tenacious agent of change, unyielding in her commitment to battling fraud and ensuring a safer world for all.

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