How to Avoid Fraud and Identity Theft in Florida!
Sandy beaches and perfect weather are just a couple of the things Florida is nationally renowned for. However, there’s another thing that Florida is famous for and it certainly isn’t something to boast about. Florida leads the nation when it comes to fraud, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon. Debt collection, impostor scams, sweepstakes and lotteries are just a few of the biggest complaints costing Florida residents their hard earned dollars. Below you will find some of the most common scams around now and how you can spot it before it’s too late.
First, let’s start with IRS impostor scams. Con artists well call you up and you will be arrested if you don’t “pay up”. You may get a voicemail that sounds something like this:
“Hi, this is Officer John White from the IRS department. The reason for this call is to inform you that the IRS has issued an arrest warrant against you, and your physical address is under federal investigation.”
In fact, in the past two years, Floridians have lost more than $1.3 million dollars to this scam alone. According to Wifredo Ferrer, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida, “The IRS will not call you to tell you that, if you don’t pay a fine, they are going to arrest you for not having filed your returns. Those kinds of scams are exploding all over the country.”
Another scam “exploding all over the country” involves fake tech support. Where the con will charge you money, take control of your computer and charge you to fix problems that simply do not exist. This scam is to take advantage of people who are not technologically inclined. Just know, if someone calls YOU about an issue with YOUR computer (and you didn’t ask first or submit a service request), it is most definitely a scam. And whatever you do, do NOT let ANYONE take control of your computer. They will hold it hostage until you pay them to give it back.
Lastly, try to look out for phone calls where you receive something of a large value ($5,000+ or vacations worth that amount) for just a “small processing or handling fee” of a couple hundred dollars. Believe it or not, no one wants to offer you a free cruise or a free government grant. They just want the “small processing or handling fee” to add to their bank account.
Of course there’s no 100% effective way to stop fraud, scams or identity theft. But, there is a way to minimalize the damage especially if you own or plan to own your own business. Next time you are on the phone with your insurance provider, see if you can add Identity Theft to your homeowner’s policy or inquire about Cyber Liability protection if you are a business owner. Online transactions happen at the speed of light – don’t wait until it’s too late. To learn how you can better protect your online presence and protect your identity, please speak to one of our dedicated agents as soon as possible.
BB Insurance Marketing is a full-service insurance agency located in South Florida that specializes in business, personal and benefits insurance. Childcare, gas stations, pest control and restaurants are just a few of the niche markets we work in. BBIMI’s insurance expertise extends all across the state, so we’ve got you covered with a quality policy you can depend on!