Holiday Scam Alert: Phishing Scheme Targets Kansas City Resident, Costing $2,500
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As the holiday season approaches, scammers are ramping up their efforts to exploit unsuspecting victims through phishing scams. A Kansas City woman recently fell victim to a scheme that cost her $2,500 after receiving a fraudulent text message.
The scam began with two individuals posing as Apple employees, claiming her account was at risk of deletion unless she responded immediately. The woman was coerced into transferring money to a cash app account, only to discover later that it was part of a widespread phishing scam.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that similar scams are occurring nationwide, with fraudsters targeting individuals across all age groups. Jessie Schmidt, a representative from the BBB, warned that such scams are particularly prevalent during the holiday season.
“We always advise people to safeguard themselves from these scams by contacting companies directly using the phone numbers listed on their official websites,” Schmidt said. “Never grant remote access to your mobile devices to strangers.”
Schmidt emphasized the importance of verifying any tech support issues through official company channels to avoid falling prey to these schemes.
With the holiday season in full swing, consumers are urged to remain vigilant and skeptical of unsolicited messages or requests for personal information.