Scams are on the rise.

According to data released by the Federal Trade Commission in February, consumers reported losing $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022.

Billion. That’s nine zeros. And that figure is up 30% from 2021, the FTC data showed.

Readers may have noticed lists of scams and frauds cropping up on the police pages of the Lehigh Valley Press newspapers.

For example, a Salisbury Township resident told police about sending a large amount of cryptocurrency to someone after he was told the payment was necessary to protect his computer. This happened in March.

A Lower Macungie Township resident lost $350 paid for NFL tickets through a social media messaging site in January. Another township resident paid $600 for two tickets to a sporting event through social media in February. The ticket seller deleted the social media account in the $350 instance, according to a news release from Pennsylvania State Police, Fogelsville. In the second, the ticket seller stopped corresponding with the township resident.

Scammers are not above posing as law enforcement to swindle others.

Readers may recall last month Pennsylvania State Police-Troop M, Bethlehem, which covers municipalities in Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties, warned residents of phone calls in which the caller posed as an official from PSP, Bethlehem.

“The Pennsylvania State Police will never solicit money or gift cards from the public,” authorities noted in the news release.

Impostor scams top the list of those reported by consumers, according to the FTC. Online shopping scams are next.

“Prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries; investment related reports; and business and job opportunities rounded out the Top 5 fraud categories,” federal authorities noted.

Meanwhile, AARP researchers tracking scams cautioned scammers are particularly resourceful in updating established cons to target others. For example, scammers are using cryptocurrency romance scams, in which scammers target potential crypto investors by posing as love interests and convincing them to download an app to invest in fake accounts.

Scammers also may reach out with fake “urgent” emails or texts from banks or credit card companies advising some sort of immediate action must be taken by you in an attempt to separate you from your money.

Scammers also can be more subtle.

For example, earlier this year, a Lower Macungie Township resident sent $400 in eBay gift cards in payment for YouTube TV service.

There are scams involving QR codes and puppy purchases, package delivery hoaxes, student loan forgiveness and payday loans to name a few detailed by AARP on its list of “14 Top Scams to Watch for in 2023” on the AARP website.

The U.S. Department of Treasury warns of scams requesting payments in exchange for grant money or threats of arrest if an immediate payment is not made. Internal Revenue Service and tax scams also make the rounds.

Information on how to avoid scams is available through diverse sources from law enforcement agencies to financial institutions to consumer protection groups.

You may want to err on the side of caution, however, and not download a questionable app offering advice in exchange for a gift card UPC.

April Peterson

editorial assistant

East Penn Press

Salisbury Press