A Yucca Valley resident is breathing a sigh of relief after nearly becoming the victim of a popular phone scam. According to Sheriff’s reports, the victim received a call on Thursday (July 1) from a scammer claiming to be from Amazon. The victim began a transfer of an undisclosed amount of money from their bank account, but became suspicious of a scam the more they talked to the scammer. After figuring out it was a scam, the victim turned off their computer, leaving the scammer extremely angry. The victim checked their account to find that no money had been taken. Reporter Cassidy Taylor has tips on how you too can avoid becoming a victim of this type of scam…
This popular scam usually starts with a recorded call from a popular large retailer such as Amazon or Apple claiming there is a suspicious purchase on your account. The recording either gives you the option of pressing 1 to talk to an operator or provides a number to call to speak to a representative and clear up the supposed issue. The goal of the scam is to panic victims with fake fraudulent charge claims to get them to provide personal information such as emails, passwords, and bank account information. If you receive a call from a major retailer such as Amazon or Apple claiming fraudulent account activity, hang up immediately and contact the business directly for verification. Never give away personal information over the phone. If you feel you’ve been a victim of this scam, contact local law enforcement.
