Scammers are now using a simple photo of people's cars to trick social media users out of their money.
People drive their cars every day — to work, to drop off kids at school— perhaps without realizing thatsomeone could be photographing their car in order to scam the owner, making them think their car was stolen and ask for a reward.
"My trust has been violated,my privacy has been violated," said the victim of one such fraud incident.
That’s what one SUVowner felt when she saw this photograph of her car on theFacebook page named "Tijuana Linea Roja," which read: "One THOUSAND DOLLARS reward, I wasrobbed at gunpoint on Boulevard Insurgentes. They pointed at the driver's head and then took the car and fled."
The owner of that vehicle claims the post is a total lie and that her vehicle was not stolen in Tijuana.
The woman asked NBC 7 to hide her identity, since this photo in the post was taken in front of her house in San Diego.
"I have a family so I am worried that we being watched and targeted. Our safety is our concern," she said.
Given the violence andcrime that nobody seems to be able to stop in Tijuana, the Tijuana Citizen Committee for Public Security is not surprised by this type of fraud.
"To commit a fraud, I mean this is something where you have to have some type of intelligence," said Roberto Quijano from the Tijuana Citizen Committee for Public Security.
It's the intelligence and creativity that is able to convince peoplethat a car was stolen at gunpoint with a simple photo. That post has almost 300 comments and some users even claim to have seen the same SUV in Tijuana themselves.
"Once they received the call, they call back the victim and ask him, 'I‘ll give you a reward for finding my car, give me your bank account so I can send you money, give me your full name,'" Quijano said.
The scammers may even ask you to log into a website to enter your bank account info in order to collect the reward of $1,000. That's something a cybersecurity expert said you should never do.
Neve ever give your bank information over social media. There are services that actually — and we have to be careful with these as well — there are services that actually allow us to login and then it'll connect our bank account," said Nikolas Behar, Ph. D. and Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity at University of San Diego.
The victim said she sent a message to Facebook to removethe post. After explaining the situation, she was told that the message does not violate Facebook rules.
NBC 7 sent a message to the administrator of the Tijuana Linea Roja Facebook page, but we never got a response.
FAQs
Identity thieves could potentially gather information on you from images that you share online. A photo posted on your birthday, for example, would provide them with your date of birth, whereas a photo of a new house could potentially give them details of where you live.
What can a scammer do with a picture of a driver's license? ›
Scammers can use your driver's license to pretend to be you and commit the following crimes: driver's license fraud, criminal activity, medical identity theft, mail fraud, credit card theft, making fake IDs, and illegally collecting unemployment benefits.
How do you know if someone is scamming you for a car? ›
Tips for avoiding scams when buying a car
- Always have the car inspected. After you test drive the car yourself, get it inspected by a mechanic you trust. ...
- Don't trust sellers who say the online marketplace guarantees the sale. ...
- Check for liens on the vehicle. ...
- Perform a vehicle history check.
Unsolicited offers: Don't respond to unsolicited cold calls, emails, junk mail, late-night commercials or infomercials, or social media posts that are either overly attractive or fear-inducing. These are all common tactics scammers use to entice you to engage.
Why would a scammer want a screenshot? ›
Screenshots are used by Cash App scammers to trick users into thinking that they've sent you money or a fake Cash App receipt.
How to threaten a scammer? ›
The best thing you can do is to tell them you know they are a scammer and that you know their true intentions and you won't be giving them the benefit to scam you, once you've said this block them. This is the best thing you can do.
Can a scammer be tracked? ›
Tracing a scammer demands persistence, leveraging online resources, and often legal assistance. Initiating with digital footprints like email addresses or phone numbers, employing reverse search tools, and reporting to authorities can unearth valuable leads.
Can a scammer take over your phone? ›
Constant Bluetooth connectivity opens the door for hackers to send a SPAM text (“bluejacking”), which can lead to them accessing your email and other personal information on your phone (“bluesnarfing”), and even taking total control of your phone (“bluebugging”).
Can someone steal your ID with a picture? ›
Never send anyone a picture of your ID. Hackers and cybercriminals can access cloud photo databases to steal your ID. If your phone is stolen or hacked, your ID will be exposed. If you have any photos of your ID stored on your computer, mobile device, in text messages, etc. - you should delete them immediately.
Can hackers use your driver's license? ›
There is enough personal information on your driver's license that thieves can use it to steal your identity. Then they can apply for credit cards, loans, cell phone service, unemployment benefits and more in your name. They also can create fake IDs and rack up traffic violations or even criminal charges in your name.
A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, when they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, it damages your credit.
Can you call the cops on someone for scamming you? ›
If you suspect a scam, there are a few important steps you should take right away. Contact your local police or sheriff's office to report the scam. Contact your state attorney general. Visit the National Association of Attorneys General.
Can police find a scammer? ›
While agencies can't always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
How do you track someone that scammed you? ›
Employ reverse search tools designed to connect names, phone numbers, or email addresses to publicly available information. Take Screenshot of WhatsApp Profile Picture, Telegram Profile Picture. Secure Your Finances: If the scam involved financial loss, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
Can someone steal your identity with just a picture? ›
Any document that contains your full name, address, date of birth, photograph, or signature can be used to steal your identity and target you with scams. What's even more alarming is that identity thieves don't need your physical ID card to steal your identity.
How to detect a scammer by photo? ›
Check the source of the image: If the image appears on multiple platforms or websites, it is more likely to be legitimate. Conversely, if the image is only found on suspicious or untrustworthy websites, it is likely a scammer picture.
What can a scammer do with my personal information? ›
Scammers can steal your identity by obtaining your personal financial information online, at the door or over the phone. What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information that they can use to loot your checking account or run up bills on your credit cards.
How do you know if you are a love scammer? ›
What are the signs you're being scammed?
- They prefer to move communications away from dating websites. ...
- They ask a lot personal questions about you.
- They avoid answering personal questions about themselves. ...
- They try to establish a bond quickly. ...
- They ask for financial help. ...
- You never meet them in person.
