Scams that all Missouri residents should be aware of
JOPLIN, Mo. — A new study has revealed the most common types of fraud in Missouri, with scams relating to Imposter Scams being the most common.
The study, carried out by QR code generator QRFY, analyzed data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to discover the most and least defrauded states and which categories of scams are most common in each state.
In total, $88,776,127 was lost to scammers in Missouri in 2023 across 34,194 reports to the FTC, which equates to $1.4 million lost per 100,000 residents.
10 Most Common Fraud Categories In Missouri
RANK | CATEGORY OF FRAUD | NUMBER OF REPORTS IN 2023 | PERCENTAGE OF ALL REPORTS |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Imposter Scams | 10,437 | 15% |
2 | Identity Theft | 9,873 | 14% |
3 | Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers, and Report Users | 9,201 | 13% |
4 | Online Shopping and Negative Reviews | 5,272 | 7% |
5 | Banks and Lenders | 3,717 | 5% |
6 | Auto Related | 3,515 | 5% |
7 | Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries | 3,228 | 5% |
8 | Health Care | 2,077 | 3% |
9 | Telephone and Mobile Services | 1,991 | 3% |
10 | Debt Collection | 1,974 | 3% |
Imposter Scams — 15%
Imposter scams are cases where someone tricks you into sending money while claiming to be someone they are not. This type of scam can be carried out over the phone, via email or text, often involve a cybercriminal scammer posing as someone from a legitimate authority, such as your bank, claiming that you owe a certain amount of money.
To avoid becoming a victim of imposter scams, never send money to someone you do not know. Do not give out personal information on the phone to people you do not know, even if they seem legitimate.
Identity Theft — 14%
Identity theft is a form of fraud that involves someone using your personal or financial information without your permission. It can damage your credit status and cost you time and money.
To protect yourself from identity theft, do not share personal information like your bank account number, Social Security number, or date of birth if requested to do so via text email or phone; and only go through companies’ official websites when making online purchases. Review your credit card and bank account statements, look out for unauthorized or suspicious transactions and report them immediately.
Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers, and Report Users — 13%
Information furnishers are entities that report consumer information to consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), including check verification services, credit bureaus, tenant screening companies, etc.
Scams in this category refer to false, inaccurate, or incomplete information reporting. They also include improper use of consumer information.
| Apps Most Likely To Share Your Personal Data >
Online Shopping and Negative Reviews — 7%
Online Shopping and Negative Review scams take various forms, including people falling victim to fake stores. The consumer is often lured in with a fake ad placed on social media, and then they place an order which they never receive.
Other online ads may appear to be from well-recognized brands but instead scam. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Banks and Lenders — 5%
These scams refer to loans offered under false pretenses. The scammer often hooks their target by making a significant promise they can’t deliver on, or by hiding the actual loan cost.
Other bank and lender-related frauds are aimed at obtaining personal or financial information, such as your SSN or credit card number, or charging exorbitant rates or hidden fees.
Auto Related — 5%
Auto-related scams take many forms. Fraudsters often use deceptive advertisements for cars sold at unbelievably low prices, which they post on various websites. They may even employ genuine vehicle photos sourced from other online listings to lend an air of authenticity.
Scammers may also pretend to be representatives of car dealers, manufacturers, or insurers. These scammers will try to convince you that your auto warranty or insurance is on the verge of expiring and try to get your personal information.
| Missouri Has One Of The Highest Car Theft Rates >
Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries — 5%
These scammers use the pretext that you have won some sort of prize or lottery jackpot, in order to steal your personal information and money. The main warning sign for this type of scam, is having to first pay an amount of money to get your prize, where the scammer will ask you to pay through wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
If you are asked to give your financial information to claim any prize or sweepstakes, that is usually a good sign that you are dealing with a fraudster.
Health Care — 3%
Scams of this nature may involve someone trying to sell you health insurance or prescription drugs at a cheaper rate. They may also try to charge you fees to navigate the health insurance marketplace — a service provided for free by law.
It is important that you do not give your personal or financial information to anyone other than your healthcare provider or insurer. Be sure to verify any organization claiming to offer healthcare benefits before you sign up.
Telephone and Mobile Services — 3%
This category can include subscriber fraud, where a scammer signs up for cellular service using fraudulently obtained customer information or false identification. This type of fraud also encompasses unauthorized use, tampering, or manipulation of a cellular phone or service.
Scammers can clone your phone by stealing its electronic serial number (ESN) and mobile identification number (MIN), allowing them to rack up costly toll charges that the actual phone user gets billed for.
Debt Collection — 3%
A legitimate debt collector should readily provide you with their company name, mailing address, and details regarding the debt they claim you owe. A debt collector refusing to furnish information about your debt, attempting to collect a debt you do not recognize, or threatening you with criminal charges typically indicates you are being subject to a debt collection scam.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has fallen victim to fraud, promptly report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
