06-05-2025
Staying one step ahead of scammers
(WSPA) – The Federal Trade Commission is warning that scams are tricking more people into falling victim, leading to a 25% jump in yearly losses.
So 7NEWS Here to Help looked into some of the latest types of scams that should be on your radar so you don't fall victim.
Scams are costing Americans $12.5 billion annually, according to the latest FTC data.
Sophisticated job scams
Chad Murphy, in Spartanburg, is a testament to how scams are growing more sophisticated.
He fell victim to a job scam from a company that went by the name Synerise.
7NEWS tried to verify whether the scammers were impersonating a Poland-based company with that name; however, despite a website in English that appears to have existed for a decade, we got no response from Synerise nor from any of the companies that it purports to serve on its site.
The scam started when a supposed 'head hunter' reached out to Murphy and offered online training with Synerise to do a work-from-home job they called 'optimizing apps.'
'I thought it was legit…I honestly believed I was going to be making money and I did for a few days, but then it just turned around, and I got caught up in it, I guess,' Murphy said.
Did you catch that? They actually paid him. Still, the ploy was to gain trust and then require him to put money back in, in order to get what he was told would be 'bigger payouts at higher levels.'
'I was supposed to get $800 after 5 days, plus the bonuses and commission that I make daily,' Murphy said.
Instead, he ended up losing $5,981.
Forums like Reddit are filled with similar warnings about Synerise and companies with similar names from victims who warn that fake reviews and chatbot messages make these pop-up companies seem more legit. The rule of thumb: be leery of any company that claims you have to pay money to make money.
Online shopping scams
Another type of scam that Hunter Jones, with the Better Business Bureau, said is on the rise involves online shopping.
'We did a study in 2024, the BBB did, and over 70% of sponsored ads could be scams, so we're seeing a lot of scammers take advantage of sponsored ads because it initially allows the consumers to trust them.'
Jones said of the scam reports from the Upstate alone, victims had lost 'thousands.'
To avoid bogus online sellers, don't click on the ad.
Search for the seller independently
Verify the domain name matches the business
Never enter payment on a site that does not have security like a lock in the URL or HTTPS ('s' is for security)
Imposter scams
The latest fraud data from the Federal Trade Commission showed that the most commonly reported category is imposter scams.
Losses last year from scammers pretending to be with the federal government, for instance, totaled $790 million, which is $170 million more than the year before.
Well-known businesses are often impersonated, too. Jones said the BBB has received multiple reports of scammers impersonating the local company, Advance America, based in Greenville.
Victims have lost from $900 to $6,000.
Even the scams you might not think people would fall for, like the bogus text claiming you have a package waiting at the post office, are raking in money for scammers who, let's be honest, wouldn't be sending it if it weren't luring in some victims.
Medical supply scams
Then there's a different type of package scam, one that actually arrives.
Medical equipment that people like John Woodson, in Clinton, SC, never requested.
'They had said my doctors in Laurens…had approved it and all they needed was my Medicare number, which I did not give them,' Woodson said.
Yet the package came, followed by a disturbing notice, a bill for $609.
'I'm not paying it was the first thing and I got right angry over it,' Woodson said.
A search of the medical supply company, Fast Meds, which has no website of its own, turns up reviews that all tell a similar tale from victims who had also been billed for supplies they didn't request or need.
As with any suspicious text or call, Woodson's message: Look it up, and don't divulge any private information before you verify its legitimacy.
Chances are, like that outstanding toll message everyone keeps getting, including Woodson's wife, Tanna, you're not alone. She wasn't about to fall victim.
'I thought Jeepers, no,' she said.
Ways to report scams
To report a scam, you can use several resources, including:
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