Scam Tracker app helps you stay on top of latest tricks

Scammers are creative. From mystery shopping ploys to imposter schemes, the tactics may change, but their goal to get your money stays the same. Consumer expert Amy Davis is showing us how you can stay on top of the latest scams.

The Better Business Bureau realizes complaints against legitimate companies can be resolved, but they found consumers calling more often about other issues.

"It's not a category that's a real business at all. It's just an outright scam," said Leah Napoliello, of the Houston BBB. "We wanted to find a way for consumers to be able to look that information up easily."

It's why they created Scam Tracker where consumers from all over the U.S. and Canada can report scams. It's a real time database that lets you see look up what criminals are up to in your area. Nationwide people have reported more than 38,000 scams since February 2015. You can zoom in on the map to see exactly what's going on where you live.

"We do see a lot of trends, especially with the IRS scam," said Napoliello. "That's the most popular across the country and here locally as well."

Out of 258 complaints in the greater Houston area since January, 63 were about phony IRS agent calls.  According to Scam Tracker, one person in the Kingwood area actually believed the caller and paid $2,000.
   
Employment scams are the second most reported in Houston this year. One person in Montgomery lost $5,000 in June after she deposited a check sent to her by a potential employer. She followed instructions to wire a portion of the money to someone else before her bank notified her that the check was bogus. She's now out the money she withdrew from the bank and wired to the scammers.

The third most reported scam in Houston are debt collection scams.

If you receive a strange call or are suspicious about someone or something, head to Scam Tracker to see if anyone else has reported something similar. You can search by type of scam or keyword. Entering information is not just for your fellow consumers.

The BBB sends Scam Tracker reports to the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance to analyze it and work with law enforcement to help prosecute scammers. If you actually want to hear back from an officer or you think you have enough information for law enforcement to track down someone who scammed you out of money, Scam Tracker is not a substitute for filing a police report.


About the Author:

Passionate consumer advocate, mom of 3, addicted to coffee, hairspray and pastries.