BBB warns against social media trend that is actually bank fraud
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The Better Business Bureau joined Good Morning ArkLaMiss to talk about a social media trend that can get users in big trouble.
Jo Ann Deal with the BBB said a social media trend encourages users to write a check for more money than they have, deposit the check into a different account of theirs, and then withdraw the money before the bad check processes.
Deal says this is bank fraud.
What the social media trend might not tell you is that you could owe all of the money back, could be kicked out of your bank, and even get in serious legal trouble for bank fraud.
Deal also warned about task scams, which can also be known as gamified job scams.
According to Deal, task scams:
- “Start with an unexpected message offering ‘work’ by doing things like ‘optimization’ or ‘product boosting’ online. You finish the tasks through an app or online platform and — supposedly — earn money through a “commission” with each click you make. However, there aren’t any commissions, and only the scammers make money.
- As you finish each task, you will see what looks like more and more earnings in the app. They’re fake, but the scammers want you to think those earnings are real. So they might pay you a little, usually $5-$10, to try to gain your trust.
- The scammers turn the tables. To unlock and complete your next set of tasks and to be able to get your ‘earnings’ out of the app, the scammer tells you to deposit your own money, usually in crypto. But even making that deposit won’t let you get those (fake) earnings, and your real money will be gone.”
Consumers can avoid task scams by ignoring generic and unexpected texts or social media messages, never paying anyone to get paid or to get a job, and not trusting anyone who says they will pay you to give a positive rating or like things online.
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