TULSA, Okla. — The stories of people scammed by heartless crooks can be heartbreaking and infuriating.
2 News introduced you to Dovie, at home, sitting alone, on oxygen, and broke, after falling victim to a gift card scam. She told us, "I'm penniless now, they took all my money."
Then, there's Kala, who caught on to a utility cut-off scam, before becoming a victim. She wants to warn people. "I just want to protect those who might fall for his scheme."
Experts at Scam Spotter keep it simple with three golden rules to keep you safe from scams.
1. slow down.
Scammers usually create a sense of urgency to get past a person's instincts. Instead pause and take time to ask questions and avoid being rushed into a bad situation.
2. spot check.
- Do research to double-check the details from the scammer.
- If you get an unexpected phone call, hang up.
- Then look up the bank, agency, or organization that's supposedly calling, emailing, or texting, and get in touch directly.
3.: stop! Don't send.
No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment on the spot. So if you think the payment feels fishy, it probably is.
"I'm just sick to my stomach, sick to my stomach." Dovie did feel it was fishy, but the scammer still won, catching her on a day full of bad news. The thief conned her into giving up the last $1,800 she had to her name.
Experts say it's critical to keep those three golden rules in mind and talk to children and elderly to keep them safe too.
WATCH the full story on 2 News Oklahoma Wednesday at 6 a.m.
Contact the Problem Solvers:
- 918-748-1502
- problemsolvers@kjrh.com
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