SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The City of Coleman posted a scam alert on Facebook today. They recieved a report of someone posing as a contractor for the city offering to do asphalt work for a resident.
The City says they haven’t contracted asphalt work with any person or company. With sumemrtime upon us and horrendously damaging storms behind, it’s also prime time for fraudsters.
The Better Business Bureau keeps track of such things, and they have some suggestions to help you avoid scams, now and on into the future. Here’s their top two suggestions.
1. Never send money via gift card or wire transfer to someone you have never met face-to-face. Seriously, just don’t ever do it. If they ask you to use wire transfer, a prepaid debit card, or a gift card, those cannot be traced and are as good as cash. Chances are, you won’t see your money again. See the FTC video on how scammers try to convince you to pay. If someone is trying to convince you to pay this way, stop, get off the phone or the computer, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Report the activity to BBB Scam Tracker.
2. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unsolicited emails. Links, if clicked, will download malware onto your computer, smart phone, tablet or what ever electronic device you’re using at the time allowing cyberthieves to steal your identity. Be cautious even with email that looks familiar; it could be fake. Instead, delete it if looks unfamiliar and block the sender.
You can check out the full article here.
