Scams target tech-savvy millennials, too

Tips from Better Business Bureau

Young people may think it's only older, more trusting people who fall victim to scams. But scammers also go after millennials and other tech-savvy individuals.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) believes millennials may be particularly susceptible to some of the most sophisticated scams, especially if they are careless when using personal technology such as smartphones, tablets and laptop computers.

One-ring scams target people who use smartphones for everything - texting, social media, calls, apps and browsing the internet. They tend to answer or return calls almost as a reflex. The one-ring scam uses automated calls programmed to look like they came from a domestic number. But when you call back, you're making an expensive international call, which shows up on your next cellphone bill.

Scammers use these calls, which are difficult to trace, to verify phone numbers on a list they have obtained are legitimate. They then may call again with another scam.

BBB recommends you register your cellphone with the national Do Not Call Registry. Do not respond to unfamiliar numbers, especially if the phone only rings once, and do not press any numbers in a voice response call from an unidentified number. You may want to report suspicious calls to the Federal Trade Commission or the Missouri attorney general.

Job scams. False job postings online may look legitimate, but they are really schemes to commit fraud. They may ask you to pay for merchandise to sell or for pre-employment screenings such as drug tests. In other cases, they may try to get sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, which can be used to commit fraud.

BBB advises job seekers to be skeptical of unsolicited job offers, especially mystery shopping or work-at-home schemes, which are almost always scams. Some scammers also have posed as parents seeking nannies to look after their children when they move to a new town.

You should never have to pay up-front to get a job, whether it's for merchandise you are going to sell, a drug test or some other pre-employment test. A legitimate employer will take care of employment expenses such as these. Never give your Social Security number to an employer until you have been hired. Your employer will need that information to report your earnings and for payroll tax purposes.

Public Wi-Fi scams. Free internet at libraries, coffee shops and malls can be a great convenience, but it is not secure. Scammers often hack into the networks looking for victims using laptops, tablets or phones. Never use public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions such as banking or making online purchases.

Charity scams. Millennials may want to help people in need, and they may not question a plea for assistance after a major disaster or a donation to a cause they favor. Fraudulent charities know this, and they could steal your donation or use your credit card information to commit fraud.

BBB advises consumers to research charities before they make a donation. BBB Charity Reviews are available on more than 11,000 charities. BBB Accredited Charities comply with BBB's 20 Standards for Charity Accountability, which means they are trustworthy and transparent in their use of donated funds.

BBB Scam Tracker is a great new tool that allows consumers to check out scams online and report scammers. BBB works with law enforcement and the media to publicize scams and shut down the scammers. More than 25,000 scams have been reported using the online tool since it was rolled out last year.

Consumers also may call BBB at 573-886-8965 if they suspect they're being targeted by a scammer.

Sean Spence is the Mid-Missouri regional director for Better Business Bureau.