TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Internet scams are on the rise. Not only are they more frequent, the false calls are getting harder to identify.
A common scam that many are answering is calls about a car’s extended warranty. For many East Texans, this scenario happens several times a day. These scam calls have been around for decades, but they are getting more intricate now with the use of smartphones and social media.
Mechele Mills, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau East Texas, shared her own experiences with scam callers.
“One of my friends got their social media messenger hacked and they kept wanting my phone number and my email address, like they’re asking me specifically,” Mills said.
The CEO urges people to strongly protect all personal information, and explains that scammers often take advantage of victims by playing with their feelings.
“All scammers try to attack you using your emotions whether that’s a good emotion like ‘surprise you won a million dollars’ or ‘we’re coming after you because you owe us money and we’re gonna scare you,’” she said.
Her advice to others is to “be level-headed, think it through before you react.”
Scam calls affect people all over the world. Jeffery Pfeiffer, an FBI Supervisory Special Agent, says many of these swindlers call from third world countries.
“The biggest…
