Baby boomers aren't the only ones being duped by scam calls and messages

The city of Eagan this month alerted the public about more than two dozen scams reported to the city’s police department so far this year. The statement noted that the reported scams resulted in a total loss of more than $441,000.

Of those cases, more than 80 percent involved victims who were under the age of 65.

The youngest victim was 21.

The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota said it illustrates that anyone, no matter their age, can fall prey to scammers if they’re not looking properly.

The Bureau’s Bess Ellenson said while the elderly are still a key target, there are other age groups that have been tricked into handing over money or personal information.

“Another group is college students. 18 to 24-year-olds,” Ellenson said. “They’re just getting their first real-world experience that other groups have already had."

Ellenson said that student loan scams are a constant complaint. They usually involve getting fake calls about a loan in default, according to the BBB. Or, there is a promise for instant loan forgiveness.

But the agency stresses that only scammers promise fast loan forgiveness, and that they often pretend to be affiliated with the government. If you get such a call, the BBB advises that you never pay a free upfront or share sensitive information.

Bogus census calls and kidnapping scares

With the 2020 Census count on the horizon, Ellenson said they have received reports about residents getting phony calls from people claiming to be with the U.S. Census Bureau. The calls can involve asking the victim to hand over personal details that shouldn’t be shared.

While it’s not out of the question to receive a call from that agency, the BBB said it usually only happens within the actual year the 10-year count is happening. So those calls shouldn’t be happening until next year.

Ellenson said that through social media, scammers can also try to extort ransom money. She said there was a recent case in Ham Lake, Minn., where a mother received a call that her child was abducted and was being held at the Mall of America. The caller said the child would be let go if the mom turned over a certain amount of money.

“The woman’s child was actually at the mall with her older sister. Someone in the family had earlier posted on social media about their visit to MOA,” Ellenson said. “Scammers will troll social media accounts to gain any sort of idea about how to exploit people.”

Ellenson said that’s why it’s important to be careful about what you post on social media platforms, and who is allowed to see it.

Ask a lot of questions

The BBB always reminds people that in a lot of scams, phone calls are involved. But the fact that most government agencies try to contact people by mail several times, before using other forms of contact, still holds true, according to group officials.

Ellenson said if you do receive a call that you suspect is a scam but you’re not entirely sure, asking a lot of questions can help you make a determination.

“If you try to get more information from the caller, you can easily to start to figure out if it’s a fake call,” Ellenson said. “And the caller might just hang up if they feel you’re onto them.”

Other tips from the BBB include:

• Never send money to someone you have never met face-to-face. And especially avoid scenarios where you are asked to wire money or use a pre-paid debit or gift card.

• Don’t click on links or open attachments in unsolicited email.

• Be extremely cautious when dealing with anyone you’ve met online, especially through Craigslist or dating sites.

• Don’t be pressured to act immediately.

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