PHOENIX — Across the country, government agencies and advocacy groups are taking part in National Consumer Protection Week. It's a time to help people understand their consumer rights and avoid fraud and scams.
Impostor scams come in many forms with crooks posing as employees of banks or major brands like Amazon, government officials, and even law enforcement. Scammers not only use the names of real law enforcement agents but also gather personal details of their victims to make their claims seem legitimate. Sgt. Enriquez says many people's personal details can be gathered easily by searching their online profiles. Some scammers have reportedly gone as far as to play radio and siren noises in the background of their phone calls to make their messages seem more urgent and scary.
"The romance scam is particularly nasty," said Brian Watson, a spokesperson for the R.O.S.E. organization which educates and raises awareness about scams.