An elderly Edwardsville woman was met with a hard truth once she learned the law enforcement agents she had been sending money to turned out to be a group of scammers.

She lost $148,750 in one day.

According to court documents filed with the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the scammers told the woman her identity “had been compromised,” and that she “needed to send money and other assets to fix the issue.” She sent the scammers money from her Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association retirement account, but they didn’t quit after that.

Almost a month later, she purchased Krugerrand gold coins that were valued at $148,750. A middleman for the operation, alleged to be 37-year-old Ligneshkumar Patel, came to her house to pick up the coins, and then the money was gone. Patel was arrested later in Plymouth, Wisconsin for allegedly being involved in scams there.

This scammers had targeted others, too, according to the court documents. Some victims were told to put money in Bitcoin ATM accounts. Once the money was in the account, the victims would never see it again, criminal complaints state.

In the digital age, scams are as prevalent and deceitful as ever. It’s rare that you’ll ever get your money back once you’re scammed, according to local law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so it’s best to take precautions first so you aren’t burned later.

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Price McCarty said vigilance and having a trustworthy group to talk to is key to protecting yourself from scams.

“All scams depend on a lie being believed ... If you — as a potential victim — or the people you trust spot that lie, then you can be protected against a lot of scams,” McCarty said.

He also said scamming is a full-time job for the scammers, who operate world-wide in nearly every continent.

“In the same way we wake up and go to work in the morning, these scammers wake up to go do their jobs each morning, which is to steal money from people,” McCarty said. “It’s an international operation that works every day of the year.”

Major Mike Lybarger, with the Edwardsville Police Department, said the department receives scam reports on a weekly basis.

The most affected group is the elderly, he said, a point backed up by McCarty. Lybarger said older people tend to be more empathetic, and so they often fall for scams that exploit their desire to help family in need. McCarty said it’s usually because old people have the most at-hand money to be stolen from, and they may also be isolated from friends and family and therefor lack a strong support network.

This does not mean other age groups aren’t affected. Young adults in school are often targets of scams, as are middle-aged adults and even children. Scammers target everyone, both Lybarger and McCarty said.

The details of how scams can be executed are too numerous to list, but the FBI provides a list of the most common types of scams people may encounter. Most of them rely on similar tactics — exploiting people’s generosity, ignorance, trust, age, desire to help, or pursuit of love.

“Scammers prey on our humanity,” McCarty said.

Common scam types

Adoption Scams

• These take advantage of parents wanting to adopt or people who are pregnant seeking to put their child up for adoption.
• Always do research on the adoption companies and check for errors in information. Do not pay for services if you are unsure that they are legitimate.
• These scams will often say the process will be quick and easy, ask for money before an opportunity passes, or be difficult to reach for questions.

Business and Investment Scams

• These make promises that investments will have guaranteed returns that never come. Never send money to a group or individual that make such promises.
• These scams can commonly take the form of Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, telemarketing scams or messages requesting immediate payment for a great return later.

Business Email Compromise

• These deceive employees into giving away company information. These emails may come from people pretending to work for the company or masking as a customer needing help.
• Always check with employers before sending any money or giving information, and double check whether the email is from a legitimate account by checking staff directories or by reaching out to the email sender in person or by calling them.
• Do not download any files or attachments and don’t visit website links from emails you find suspicious.

Charity and Disaster Scams

• Fake organizations will tug on people’s heartstrings for donations after disasters or for charity.
• It is best to do your own research and find reputable places to send money instead of waiting for a solicitation. Be cautious if these organizations reach out to you, and make sure they’re legit before sending them anything.

Scammed as an Elder

• Many scammers try to take advantage of trusting or kindhearted older people to steal their money or identities.
• It is best to always approach unsolicited contact from people with apprehension, even if they seem to be a relative or otherwise trustworthy.
• Never give any financial information or money away unless entirely certain the person is reputable and can be trusted.
• If you are an elder and are suspicious that you’re being scammed, end contact with the person or reach out to people you know. Don’t be afraid to report the scam, either.

Election Crimes and Security

• These use various methods for election suppression, bribery or coercion.
• Know that nobody can tell you how to vote, and that any attempt at voter suppression or other election related crimes should be reported to authorities.

Holiday Scams

• Scammers create great deals around the holidays for things that likely don’t exist.
• Do research on and only purchase from trusted websites with real and plentiful reviews.
• If purchasing from a direct source, such as using Facebook Marketplace, message the seller and ask questions and use your judgment to decide if they’re real.

Money Mules

• These trick people into holding or moving illegally-obtained money as a form of laundering.
• Never accept money from unknown people or employers and never open a bank account for them.
• This type of scam can get you in serious legal trouble even if you were unaware of your involvement and are a victim, so always stay vigilant for this one.

Ransomware

• This is a virus that locks computers and their files, only to be reopened by paying a ransom.
• It is best to keep backups of your files and understand company protocols in the event of a ransomware attack.
• Even if you pay — the government will not pay the ransom — the hackers still may not unlock the files, so doing a total sweep of files and systems will likely be necessary.

Romance Scams

• Scammers trick people into thinking they’re compatible partners, and later, once trust is established, will ask for favors or money.
• If people on dating sites seem constantly flaky about meeting up with you, it’s best to move on, as they may be a scammer.
• Reverse image search pictures to see if they’ve been posted elsewhere. If they’re asking for money before you’ve met them in person, it’s a scam.
• Never send intimate photos online either, as they may be used as blackmail against you for payment. Like ransomware, this is not a problem guaranteed to be resolved after payment.

Skimming

• Skimming devices are installed on card readers to steal card info. Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards are particularly susceptible since they don’t have microchips for tap pay.
• Check your bank account regularly and test card readers to see if anything was added onto them.
• Scammers may attach fake card readers, pin-pad readers or even install the skimmers into the machine, making it impossible to see without breaking into it yourself.
• To protect against this, use tap pay, credit cards and or card readers closest to an employees’ view. Microchips are hard to skim, fraudulent credit card spending is easier to get back and scammers are less likely to install skimmers on machines if an employee can see them do it.

Spoofing and Phishing

• Spoofing is creating fake accounts that seem legitimate through small changes, which can create enough trust to send important information.
• Make sure the account is who it says it is before interacting — differences can be as small as one letter.
• Phishing is using fraudulent access points to get people to put in their information. Fake websites are an example.
• Check the link of the website for misspellings and always type out websites on your own if not sent from a trusted person or source. If you think the website may be fake, do not enter passwords or emails into login boxes and don’t run or open anything downloaded from the site.
• These scams are often done as a pair of scams rather than one separate scam. Besides being online, they can also occur over phone calls and text messages.

How to protect yourself

Here are some general safety precautions and tips that are applicable to many different kinds of scams, also from the FBI’s website:

If it seems too good to be true, it is.

• In financial situations, always ask what the other person is getting out of the transaction. If the answer is “not much,” then it may be a scam.
• Never apply for jobs that promise great pay for little work. These are almost always a scam. Direct job offers rarely ever come unsolicited, especially ones that seem like a good gig.
• Be cautious if people seem to fall head over heels for you on dating sites. You may be awesome, but they may be vying for your money rather than your company.

Always verify messages are official before trusting them.

• Check for small inconsistencies. If unsure, call or meet the person who is reaching out to you, and not with contact info sent from the suspicious email.

Do not download, run or open anything if you’re unsure it’s safe.

• Whether from an email, a website or a text message, never use any files that aren’t certainly safe. Sometimes, just opening the file can infect your computer. If left unopened, you should be safe.

Use reliable anti-virus software.

• Viruses are inevitable, which is why you need good, reputable anti-virus software. Do your own research to find one that fits your needs.
• Do regular scans for viruses on your computer or systems.

Be cautious of any unsolicited contact.

• This is especially true for anything regarding finances or from someone claiming they know you.
• Scam calls happen out of the blue, and they can be spotted by automated voices or if they say you’re in deep, nondescript trouble that needs urgent attention.
• Important emails aren’t usually unexpected, so if it is, be sure to check who is sending it and what it’s trying to get you to do.

If scammed, report as many details as possible to local government agencies.

• While it’s highly unlikely, sometimes whatever you were scammed out of could be returned back to you, and so it’s always best to try.
• Even if there’s nothing in it for you, it can shut down a scammer or scamming operation that has and would continue to steal from others.

Watch what you post on social media and elsewhere.

• Scammers can use your posts to learn more about you, which makes it easier for them to break into accounts.
• Always remember what security questions and passwords you may have, as posting pet names, birthdays, hometowns or high schools may give answers to potential scammers.
• Never write passwords on easily accessible materials such as sticky notes. If lost, stolen or spotted this can allow scammers or hackers to waltz into your account and do what they please.

Be observant of your financial accounts.

• Checking your bank statements thoroughly is a good way to stay vigilant against scams. If you notice a transaction you don’t remember doing or find suspicious, don’t hesitate to report it to your bank.
• If you have elderly family members, check their bank statements as well in case they may have missed something.

Don’t be pressured into acting fast.

• Scammers will create a sense of urgency to try to make you rush into something without thinking.
• This is also utilized to create a fear of missing out, especially for investment scams.
• Unless you know the person — and if they are actually that person — there aren’t too many situations where such urgency is vital.
• Any situation where there is such urgency, asking for credentials or who the person is can be a good way to test if the situation is real.

Setup two-factor authentication on all accounts.

• Two-factor authentication makes it much more difficult for scammers or hackers to break into your account. Ignoring this basic step creates needless risk.

Make strong passwords and use different passwords for your accounts.

• If you use the same password or a weak password, it makes it easier for your account to be broken into.

• According to a Forbes article from 2013, 30,000 websites are hacked daily. If you have an account on a hacked website, hackers and scammers may be able to get access to it and your password. This is why having different passwords is important.

• Microsoft’s guideline for passwords says you should use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols; you should avoid using words you can find in a dictionary; and you should avoid using the names of people, pets or brands.

Take heed before a scam happens.

• It is important to take scam protection seriously, because you may not always be able to get back what you’ve lost.
• Or, in the worst case, you may be in legal trouble for compliance in certain scams — such as being a money mule — even if you were unaware of the scam.

Useful resources

While there isn’t much to be recovered once you’ve been scammed, you should still report any and all scams you come across — who knows, you may get lucky. If not for you, then you can at least help prevent someone else from getting scammed.

• The FBI has a website, ic3.gov, which provides a system where you can report scams. They also have a phone line, 1-800-225-5324.

• Reporting scams to local law enforcement is also good idea, as law enforcement agencies will often collaborate with the FBI when breaking up scams.
• Get to know the people that work at your bank because if they know you they may spot transactions that don’t make sense and will report it to authorities or check up with you about it.