Fraud Watch September 2024: Impersonation Spam Mail, Social Media Influencer Schemes, and Missed Jury Duty Scams

Stay informed and protect yourself from the latest fraud threats! Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, and it’s important to stay ahead. In this email, we’ll cover some of the most recent scams making the rounds, including fake spam mail pretending to be from trusted sources, missed jury duty scams, and even social media influencer schemes.

Keep reading to learn how to spot these scams and safeguard your personal information.

BankSouth Impersonation Spam Mail

This scam is specific to BankSouth customers. A customer made us aware of letters mailed to them claiming to be from BankSouth related to matters of their home loan. Please be cautious when receiving unexpected mail. To verify a letter is from us, always check for accurate contact information and accurate account-specific details.

If you receive any suspicious communication claiming to be from BankSouth, do not respond or share your personal information – reach out to us directly at (706) 453-2265 to confirm its legitimacy. The security of your personal information is our top priority.

Social Media Influencer Scams

This scam can be something that tweens, teens, and adults could fall victim to. While surfing social media, we’re likely to be scrolling content from our favorite “influencers” or “content creators” whose full-time job is to make content that engages with their followers.

Scammers mimic popular influencers by creating fake accounts in their names and hosting fake contests, tricking finalists and winners into providing personal information in exchange for a supposed prize.

Avoid becoming a victim by never sending any kind of personal information in order to claim a free prize. It’s also worth noting that fake accounts generally have fewer followers and fewer posts on their profile when compared to a legitimate account.

Missed Jury Duty Scam

Missing jury duty can put you in a serious situation, from fines and a court appearance to being arrested. These consequences are why scammers take advantage of the situation to get money and your personal information. But don’t fall for it; it’s a scam.

This scheme is initiated with either a call or email from “someone” from law enforcement or court system (this is an impersonation). The fraudsters will claim that you didn’t show up for jury duty and there is a warrant out for your arrest. To avoid being arrested and charged is to pay them a fine, and if you refuse, you could go to jail.

You can tell this is a scam a couple of different ways. One, you never received a jury summons. Two, courts and government agencies never take payment or ask for personal information over the phone. If you feel like the call or email could be real, the best thing to do is call the court directly at the correct phone number.

Source of this month’s scam information:

Missed Jury Duty Scams:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/did-you-get-call-or-email-saying-you-missed-jury-duty-and-need-pay-its-scam

Social Media Influencer Scams:
https://www.bankingjournal-digital.com/baks/0524_september_october_2024/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=2004621