Lubbock Expert Speaks Out on Avoiding Frauds, Threats, and Scams!

Fraud! I've seen it, you've seen it, you're great grandma has seen it. Unfortunately, not everyone in this world wants to see you happy and healthy when it comes to your finances, love life or shopping behavior.

Fortunately for us, one Lubbock expert has spoken out about what threats we here in West Texas should keep our peepers on as we interact in the digital realm, especially when our finances are involved.

BBB Sounds Good to Me!

Everything Lubbock included remarks recently made by BBB Lubbock Regional Director Cosme Ojeda about the current climate in scams and frauds for U.S. and even Canada.

Ojeda mentioned that one of the most common scams of 2024 involved cryptocurrency. In fact, victims from crypto scams have lost an average of $5,000 in 2024.

The second most common scam from 2024? Employment scams. What these typically look like is when a jobseeker applies to a fake listing. Eventually, the scammers request that the applicant pay for equipment and training in order to proceed.

Romance scams close out the top three most common, according to Lubbock's very own Ojeda. These involve emotional manipulation of vulnerable singles looking for love.

These scams often lead to criminals asking for money after pretending to be someone else looking for love. They use emotions as weapons by claiming they are in love with their victims before leeching them for cash.

READ MORE: Texas Warns Against Romance Scammers on the Rise

Ojeda concludes with some words of wisdom:

It's important to slow down and ask questions. Being proactive in verifying information can help prevent falling victim to these scams.

So, the next time you do business online or you think you met your perfect match on a dating site, take a step back and try to look at it from a birds-eye view.

If something seems too good to be true or you are asked for personal info a bit quicker than you'd imagine, perhaps there's a chance you are being scammed.

Stay vigilant!