Tag: scamalert | zests.ai

#scamalert

James Cook

How I Lost $15K Paying Mom’s Taxes

Ever tried to help your parents and ended up in a mess? One woman paid $15,000 to a local tax service to settle her 93-year-old mom’s IRS bill—only to find out the IRS never got a dime. Turns out, the tax company took her cash (via Zelle and Cash App!), then ghosted her. Lesson: Always double-check who you’re paying, and stick to official payment methods. Don’t let your good deed turn into a money pit! #MoneyMistakes #TaxTips #FamilyFinance #ScamAlert #Finance

phillipsbrian

Renovation Nightmare Cost Her Retirement

Imagine dropping $300k on a home reno, only to get totally scammed and end up cashing out your retirement just to finish the job. That’s what happened to Leesa Tori in Colorado—she trusted the wrong contractor, and now she’s left with a half-finished house and zero savings. If you’re planning a remodel, double-check those contractors! Don’t miss these 5 red flags for spotting property scams: 1. Fake owners 2. Fake agents 3. Sketchy cash offers 4. Predatory lending 5. Bait-and-switch movers. Protect your money! #Home #HomeRenovation #ScamAlert

NJ cyber safety

🛡️ Fake Lawyers on Facebook: New Scam Warning

In 2025, a new type of scam is spreading fast on Facebook. Criminals are creating fake law firm pages and running ads that promise to help people “recover money lost to scams.” But here’s the truth: these so-called lawyers are scammers themselves — and they’re trying to con you twice. 🚩 What I Discovered As someone who works in cybersecurity, I investigated these pages myself: ✅ Most of these Facebook pages were created in 2025 — brand new, with no real history. ✅ None of them are verified by Facebook. ✅ They run ads promising legal help, but the second you click, you get: • An automatic Messenger message asking what kind of scam you fell for and how much you lost • A push to continue on WhatsApp or Telegram — both common tools for scammers • A promise they won’t charge unless they recover your money — it sounds free, but that’s how they gain your trust before setting the trap • Requests for personal details like payment methods or bank info It makes you wonder: How does Facebook even approve these ads? How do scams like this slip through on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp? These aren’t real lawyers. They’re fraudsters trying to get more money or sensitive info from people who’ve already been scammed. ⚠️ Red Flags to Watch For • New page created recently (check page info — often 2025) • No official Facebook verification badge • Automated or generic replies • Requests to switch to WhatsApp/Telegram • Upfront requests for sensitive info 🛡️ How to Stay Safe • Report these pages or ads on Facebook • Don’t share personal or scam details with strangers online • Contact your bank or FTC if you’ve lost money • Reach out to local cybersecurity help for real advice 📌 Final Note If you want to see real investigations of these scams as I go undercover, you can follow my Telegram channel: t.me/NJCSRlocal — I post detailed breakdowns to help people stay safe. #scamalert #cybercrime #cybersafety #onlinescams #Facebookscam #njcybersafety #whatsappscam

Amber Mcguire

Paid $2.8K for a Car—It Never Showed Up?!

Imagine dropping $2,800 on a used car, only for the company to ghost you! That’s what happened to Debra Godsey, who’s now stuck commuting 4 hours a day to work. The car broker, Vehicle Veterans, just stopped replying after taking her cash, and now Debra’s fighting for a refund. The company claims they have 5 months to deliver, but she never signed a contract. Total nightmare! Always double-check contracts and don’t send money unless you’re 100% sure. Would you trust a car broker after this? #CarBuyingNightmare #ScamAlert #CommuterLife #Transportation

Katherine Hunt

Student Loan Scams Are About to Explode

Student loan collections are kicking back in, and scammers are ready to pounce on stressed-out borrowers. If you’re behind on payments, watch out for shady calls, texts, or emails promising quick fixes or forgiveness for a fee—total red flag! Remember: You never have to pay upfront for legit help, and your FSA ID is for your eyes only. Double-check anything that sounds too good to be true, and go straight to StudentAid.gov for real info. #StudentLoans #ScamAlert #DebtCollection #Education

Robyn Anderson

How I Got Burned by a Cowboy Builder

Ever thought a quick home fix could cost your whole nest egg? Eric, a pensioner, lost £17,000 to a dodgy builder who showed up uninvited, made a mess, and vanished with the cash. The real kicker? The stress and chaos left Eric and his partner sick and distrustful. Lesson learned: never say yes to doorstep deals—always check reviews and get everything in writing. Protect your savings, folks! #MoneyLifehacks #HomeImprovement #ScamAlert #Finance

Meghan Reynolds

Are Google’s Scam Protections Enough?

Google’s ramping up its scam detection game—think AI-powered warnings in Chrome and real-time scam alerts in Messages. But with scammers constantly evolving, are these updates enough to keep us safe? From fake customer support to package tracking cons, the threats keep multiplying. Is Google’s Gemini integration the answer, or just another layer in a never-ending cat-and-mouse game? Would you trust your data to these new protections? Let’s debate. #GoogleSecurity #ScamAlert #TechDebate #Tech

randerson

How a Real Estate CEO Fooled Retirees

Ever heard of a real estate deal that sounds too good to be true? Turns out, a Bay Area CEO allegedly tricked retirees out of $46 million by selling fake shares in property investments—many met him at church! The real shocker: people thought they were investing for their golden years, but their money went to his personal expenses instead. Always double-check who’s handling your nest egg, especially if they’re promising easy returns. #MoneyMatters #Investing101 #ScamAlert #RealEstate

Kaitlyn Page

Temu Job Texts: Too Good to Be True?

Anyone else getting those wild Temu job offers via text? Promises of $200-$3,000 a day for 15 minutes of "work" sound dreamy, but it’s a total scam. Real people got sucked in, lost money, and ended up with frozen accounts unless they paid even more. Temu’s actually warning folks: don’t trust random texts, don’t share your info, and definitely don’t send money. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! #ScamAlert #Temu #JobScam #JobCareer

Teresa Thomas

XRP Hits Wall Street—But Watch for Scams!

Big news for crypto fans: XRP just got listed for futures trading on the world’s biggest exchange, CME Group. That means Wall Street pros can now bet on XRP, just like they do with Bitcoin and Ethereum. Expect more buzz and maybe bigger price swings! But heads up—Ripple is warning everyone about a spike in scams. If someone asks you to send XRP, it’s a red flag. Stay sharp and double-check before clicking any links! #XRP #CryptoNews #MoneyHacks #InvestingTips #ScamAlert #Business

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