The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Upper Saddle River NJ, the Upper Saddle River Police is investigating two scams that occurred over the last 72 hours. These scams fit a common pattern involving the request for large quantities of cash or gift cards.
Continue reading “a family member in trouble” Scam Making to Rounds in Upper Saddle River
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Upper Saddle River NJ, Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) warned its customers that crooks have launched a new round of predatory phone calls aimed at stealing O&R customers’ money.
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Ridgewood NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin warned New Jerseyans to beware of internet scams using the promise of love and romance to financially victimize individuals from young teens to senior citizens.
Continue reading NJ AG Urges New Jerseyans to Beware of Online Scams Using the Promise of Love
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Ridgewood NJ, as Valentine’s Day approaches, threat actors may attempt to prey on individuals seeking companionship or romance. The NJCCIC continues to receive reports of sextortion incidents in which victims are threatened with the release of compromising or sexually explicit photos or videos if they do not pay an extortion demand. Some sextortion threats are not credible, as threat actors are unable to provide proof of such photos or videos. However, there is an increase in reported sextortion incidents in which threat actors pretended to be trusting potential love interests. In several recent incidents, threat actors posed as attractive females to target their victims, build trust, and convince them to send compromising or sexually explicit photos or videos.
Continue reading Dodging Cupid’s Malicious Arrow: Sextortion and Romance Scams
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Deceptive practices by solar panel salespeople, who deliberately obscure the specific terms of financial agreements and obfuscate the true value of their products, are creating upheaval in the solar panel industry. Law firms across the United States report a surge in calls from individuals who have fallen victim to unscrupulous sales tactics, leading them to commit to agreements beyond their financial means. The repercussions are now affecting major public solar companies, raising concerns about the sustainability of the financial products they promoted to both customers and investors. The residential solar industry is facing significant challenges, with over 100 solar dealers and installers in the US declaring bankruptcy in the latter part of 2023 alone.
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Westwood NJ, attention Westwood and other Bergen residents: the Westwood Police Department has seen an uptick in online scams through Craigslist or other social media platforms, targeting towns in the Pascack Valley. Apartments, houses, and rooms for rent are being posted with the intention of stealing your identity along with all of your important information.
Continue reading Westwood Police Department: Uptick in Online Scams Through Craigslist
file photo by Boyd Loving
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Ridgewood NJ, according to the FTC , scammers will follow the record-setting winds, rainfall, and storm surge that have left thousands of East Coast residents, from Florida to Maine, under water or without power. As the waters recede, scammers will try to take advantage of people doing their best to recover, trying to steal money and personal information. So how do you protect yourself and those around you?
Continue reading FTC: Avoid Recovery Scams After East Coast Storm Damage
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Glen Rock NJ, the Glen Rock Police are warning of an uptick in “home improvement scams”. How can you tell if a contractor might not be reputable? Here are some tactics scammers use:
Continue reading Glen Rock Police Warn of Uptick in “Home Improvement Scams”
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Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police Department has seen a significant uptick in reports of fraud involving identify theft and scam schemes (phone, email, and in-person). We recommend that all our residents stay vigilant by monitoring their credit activity and to use extreme caution when dealing with parties attempting to receive a payment for any purpose. Before sending any payment, it is recommended to confirm with the company or agency directly if there is in fact a balance due.
Continue reading The Ridgewood Police Warn of a Significant Uptick in reports of Fraud Schemes
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Ridgewood NJ, according NJ OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS , Job seekers are urged to exercise caution during their job search, as they could be targeted with fraudulent offers via phishing emails, social media, or SMS text messaging, according to NJCCIC. Threat actors entice their victims with promises of opportunities that are “too good to be true” to deliver malware, steal funds or collect personally identifiable information. These schemes may cost victims thousands of dollars and negatively impact their credit scores, according to the FBI. Job seekers are encouraged to research potential employers before providing sensitive information to unknown senders. The NJCCIC also recommends reviewing its Identity Theft and Compromised PII product for additional guidance.
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Ridgewood NJ, the Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are partnering to raise public awareness about Social Security imposter scams during the third annual “Slam the Scam” Day on March 10. Social Security scams – where fraudsters attempt to mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments to fix purported Social Security number problems or to avoid arrest – are an ongoing government imposter fraud scheme. For several years, Social Security impersonation scams have been one of the most common government imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Social Security has made concerted efforts to address this issue, and extensive outreach and investigative efforts are having a positive impact, decreasing scam reports to OIG by more than 20 percent since 2020.
Continue reading Social Security Holds National Slam the Scam Day
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Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog has reported on a number of consumer frauds over the years focusing primarily on the seniors being taken advantage of in Bergen County the FTC’s new Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book points out the younger people may be the victims of fraud far more often.
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When unfortunate events occur that garner widespread public attention – such as natural disasters, international conflict, and other tragedies – cyber threat actors often capitalize on this interest using social engineering schemes. As the US enters the height of hurricane season with Hurricane Ida causing significant damage across the Southern and Eastern Coasts, the public may search for relevant charities hoping to provide donations to impacted individuals and businesses. In addition, the recent US military departure from Afghanistan and related humanitarian crisis has led to pleas for donations, resources, and assistance from the public. Well-intentioned individuals may be eager to help and, therefore, more likely to fall victim to various scams and social engineering schemes. These threats are often delivered via email, social media posts, and text messages, and may include fraudulent links or attachments that supposedly include information on how and where to donate or provide assistance. Additionally, a separate scheme circulating includes emails sent from individuals impersonating hospital staff and claiming that they have a patient who is in dire need of surgery and/or medical care as the result of a tragedy or disaster. Emails may include images showing evidence of their claims; however, these images are typically unrelated or doctored.
Continue reading Beware of Disaster Relief and Tragedy-Related Scams
Finding a decent casino platform is a challenge, and blacklists are not always reliable. This market is too dynamic, and new providers are springing up all the time. Follow our tips to stay safe. Cybercriminals are capitalizing on the human penchant for gambling, so be wary and watch out for: Continue reading Shady Online Casinos: 6 Warning Signs
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Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G wants customers to be aware of an active scam threatening disconnection of electric service due to a pending balance. Customers are reporting automated calls claiming to be from the “Disconnection Department of PSE&G New Jersey” and encouraging them to connect through to speak to a representative.
Continue reading PSE&G Sees Increase in Utility Scams Threatening Immediate Power Disconnection
