As the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities face the daunting process of rebuilding their homes and lives, scammers are preying on their vulnerability, exploiting their need for assistance to perpetrate fraud.
These schemes often involve fake fire cleanup services and fraudulent insurance claim promises, leaving victims not only financially drained but also emotionally devastated. It is crucial to remain vigilant and informed.
There are companies that provide the infrastructure that allows fraudulent tech support operations to function ruthlessly. It’s a cloud-based call tracking and routing system that provides the backbone connecting scam, “publishers” (who place fake virus pop-ups), with call brokers and scam call centers, effectively creating a marketplace for making fire victims a vulnerable target.
Remarkably, the scammers have immediate visibility into victim call activity and performance. This allows fraudsters to monitor how many victims are calling in real time and adjust their tactics or advertising accordingly. The system’s live reporting dashboards enable instant decisions to maximize the scam’s reach and profitability.
The fraudsters frequently rotate phone numbers and maintain large pools of numbers for their scam campaigns. This constant number rotation means that if one phone number starts accumulating complaints or is flagged, the scammers can quickly switch to a new number, effectively resetting their tracks to avoid telecom carrier blocks and lawsuits.
Telephone carriers are frequently misled: When carriers contact call brokers about scam complaints tied to specific numbers, the brokers falsely claim those numbers have been “deallocated” and that the offending client is no longer using their system.
Industry and law enforcement data on tech support scams suggest that individual victims often lose a few hundred dollars each. A Microsoft-sponsored survey found that globally, “victims reported losing an average of $200 to the scammers” in tech support scams. Many victims are charged in the $200–$400 range for bogus support packages. However, some victims (especially elderly targets) have been known to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars in a single incident. In our current fire recovery environment, the potential for fraud is even higher, considering property values.
Here are five essential tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim of these scams:
- Avoid unknown texts with embedded links that seek vital information concerning your street address, date of birth, driver’s license number, etc.
- If you answer your phone to a long pause and then hear a voice with a loud background…hang up!
- If you get a pop-up message on your computer or tablet that your computer is compromised, don’t click the message and clear your browser.
- Be cautious when approached by individuals claiming to represent fire cleanup companies or insurance agencies without proper credentials. Always verify their legitimacy by checking for licenses and customer reviews, and avoid paying upfront fees for services.
- Consult with your local fire recovery authorities or consumer protection agencies if you suspect fraud. Remember, staying informed and vigilant is your best defense against these malicious schemes.
