Today, most of us know a thing or two about avoiding scams. We scoff at emails from foreign princes requesting Western Union money transfers (if the messages make it through our spam filters, of course) and even our phones can detect whether an incoming call from an unknown number is It’s probably spam, telemarketing, or a scam call. .
However, scams and schemes have also become more sophisticated, and are on the rise. A few years ago, it took me several minutes to realize that the Chinese-speaking caller on the other end of the line wasn’t actually calling from FedEx with a package from my mother in Taiwan. And when I Google “pay for car registration online,” the first few links don’t go to my county tax office’s website; They all go to outside agencies eager to “help” me pay my dues for a generous fee.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam lately, don’t be ashamed: you’re not alone.
“Identity theft is not one of those things that ‘happens to someone else,'” Michael Bruemmer, vice president of consumer protection at Experian, told TPG.
He Federal Trade Commission received more than 2.6 million scam reports in 2023 alone. According to the FTC, imposter scams top the list of fraud reports and account for more than $2.7 billion stolen from consumers.
A plan aimed in particular at travelers is the Global Entry registration scam. The Better Business Bureau reported The agency’s ScamTracker website had received multiple accounts of “deceptive websites that trick people into handing over money and sensitive personal information.”
Related: There’s a new way to avoid waiting for your Global Entry interview
How the Global Entry scam works
You search for the Global Entry application online, according to the BBBand the official US Customs and Border Protection A website appears, as does another website created specifically to imitate the official page.
If you follow that imposter link, you will be taken to a third-party company that offers to complete all the required paperwork on your behalf; Just provide your personal information such as your full name, passport number and home address. You will be asked to pay the standard government fee of $120, plus an additional service fee.
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What just happened? According to BBB, “Scammers have tricked you into paying extra money to fill out the form on the official government website. Plus, they now have access to your personal information and credit card details.”
Out of curiosity, I tried this Google search for myself. Here are my results for “renew global entry“:
You’ll see that the Google search box shows me a preview of the steps I need to follow, directly from the official CBP website. However, the first link at the top directs to an ad for a third-party site with all the right buzzwords.
In incognito mode, which doesn’t take into account the hundreds of travel sites I search every day, the official CPB page under “Global Entry Registration” appears even further down the page, below two advertisements with very sounding URLs. legitimate:
But none of these companies are approved by CBP.
boarding group We did a little research and discovered that the address listed for one of these so-called “expediting agencies” It actually went to a shady looking warehouse in Houston.according to Google Maps.
“There is only a trusted traveler program website“A CBP spokesperson told TPG. “Third-party companies that charge fees to process Trusted Traveler Program applications are not endorsed, associated, or affiliated in any way with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. nor with the US government.”
Related: Simple Steps to Avoid Credit Card Fraud
What to do if you have been scammed
A reader reached out to TPG for guidance after falling victim to one of those sites and wondering what next steps he should take to prevent his personal and financial information from being further compromised.
“How bad is this really?” the reader asked, explaining how they had Applied for global entry through a third-party site.
Unfortunately, it’s always bad news when you credit card detailshome address and personal information such as full name, date of birth, driver’s license number and passport information have been compromised.
“The door has just opened to becoming a victim of identity crime,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, who suggests that people like this TPG reader act quickly if they accidentally give out personal information about a suspicious object. website.
Even if nothing happens to your data right away, it’s no fun finding out the hard way that unscrupulous strangers have so much access to your private information. “A passport in the wrong hands could lead to various forms of fraud,” said the security and Safr.Me CEO Robert Siciliano told TPG.
And just because data breaches are very frequent does not mean that the risks are mitigated in any way. “Recover from identity theft “It can be a long and frustrating fight,” said Michael Bruemmer, vice president of consumer protection at Experian. “Many people think it can only happen once, or that the risks fluctuate. In contrast, identity theft often carries lifelong consequences.”
The good news? A few simple security steps can reduce the risk of identity theft and help current victims monitor potential fraud. Victims can do damage control by reporting theft of financial and identification documents, closely monitoring the physical security of their homes, and subscribing to online data reports.
Security experts suggest taking certain steps when your personal information is compromised.
Report your credit card as stolen
Block any subsequent transactions and request a new card with different numbers. (If you have a credit card with a “pause” buttonThis is a good time to use that feature.)
Lock your credit file
Secure your credit file with the three major consumer credit bureaus until your card has been reissued. (Note that a credit lock is not the same as a credit freezewhich takes longer to lift than a temporary lock).
Sign up for online notifications
Sign up for text or email alerts to be notified every time your credit card is used for a transaction. Monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity and immediately report anything out of the ordinary. And if your home address has been compromised, a good security system will give you peace of mind, especially if you use a system that syncs with your phone or sends digital alerts.
Monitor your email
If your email address has been compromised, stay alert for various forms of phishing emails and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
Report the scam
After you have taken steps to protect and monitor your personal and financial information, report the fraudulent company to BBB Scam Tracker website and FTC Identity Theft Website.
Related: What is the difference between credit card fraud and identity theft?
In a nutshell
If you are not sure how to manage the process yourself, you can ask the experts for help. Advisors in the Identity Theft Resource Center offer free counseling over the phone, Velasquez said, “including who you should call [and] what you need to say. [They] will help you create a plan of action that is best for you.”
Ultimately, the best protection against future scams is a strong, proactive approach.
“Consumers should be aware of the true risk, especially as it increases, and do everything they can to reduce their vulnerability,” Bruemmer told TPG. “Taking steps to safeguard personal and sensitive information can protect against identity theft, and keeping an eye on financial accounts can mitigate or even stop fraud.”
What’s the one thing you don’t want to do, according to Bruemmer? Get overwhelmed and pretend that nothing has happened. “Doing nothing only makes it easier for thieves to claim even more victims.”
