Greg Collier @gregcollier

Don’t give party scammers a reason to celebrate By Greg Collier While the convenience of online rental services can make party planning a breeze, it’s essential to tread carefully to avoid falling victim to rental scams. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) continues to receive…

Beware of smishing: The rise of text message toll scams By Greg Collier In an era where digital communication is ubiquitous, scams have adapted to exploit every possible avenue, including text messaging. Recent reports from various states across the US indicate a surge in…

Protecting yourself and loved ones from the Phantom Hacker scam By Greg Collier Scams lurk around every virtual corner, preying on unsuspecting victims with cunning sophistication. Among these, the “Phantom Hacker” scam has emerged as a particularly insidious threat, targeting…

Romance scam victim falls victim to second scam By Greg Collier The quest for love has transcended physical boundaries, with countless individuals turning to the internet in hopes of finding their soulmate. However, this modern-day fairytale is not without its dark side. A…

Elderly scam victim accused of robbing bank By Greg Collier While technology connects us in unprecedented ways, it also exposes vulnerable populations to new risks. The recent case of a 74-year-old woman suspected of robbing a bank in Ohio, sheds light on the dark reality of…

Is your car being listed for rent on Marketplace? By Greg Collier Most of us are no strangers to the home rental scams that infest online classifieds. These scams involve fraudsters listing properties they don’t own, aiming to deceive unsuspecting renters into paying upfront…

Military man charged in romance scam By Greg Collier Romance scammers frequently adopt the identities of military personnel, ranging from newly enlisted recruits to high-ranking officers. This impersonation offers scammers a convenient excuse for avoiding face-to-face meetings…

How a phone call scam robbed a man of his dreams By Greg Collier In the pursuit of the American dream, many immigrants come to the United States with aspirations of success and prosperity. However, for a software engineer residing in Ohio, his dreams turned into a nightmare…

Another gold scam claims $115,000 from elderly couple By Greg Collier An elderly Nebraska couple recently fell victim to a particularly elaborate and harrowing fraud scheme, losing a staggering $115,000 in the process. The couple’s computer abruptly shut down, signaling the…

Scam targets victims with false prize winnings By Greg Collier The advance fee scam is a type of fraud that involves enticing victims with the promise of a large sum of money in exchange for a relatively small upfront payment or fee. This scheme operates under various guises…

Uber driver killed during scam By Greg Collier In the Columbus, Ohio, vicinity, a recent scam turned deadly for one victim, while another is now behind bars. Meanwhile, the perpetrators remain at large. The incident began with what appeared to be a grandparent scam. A group of…

State sues banks over scam victims By Greg Collier Before, we’ve recounted numerous instances in which banks pointed fingers at scam victims, alleging they were the culprits. These allegations seemed to stem from a single bank, as per anecdotal evidence. Yet, a lawsuit filed by…

After White House announcement, student loan forgiveness scams are on the rise By Greg Collier In the realm of student loans and debt relief, hope can often be overshadowed by the looming burden of repayment. So, when news breaks of potential relief programs, it’s no wonder…

Victim losing home in quitclaim deed scam By Greg Collier In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a widow from Mississippi, found herself ousted from her family home after falling victim to a deceptive scheme. Left to fend for herself and her two grandchildren following her…

Unveiling the shadowy depths of the “Pig Butchering” scam By Greg Collier In the interconnected landscape of the internet, where opportunities abound, so too do the darker facets of human nature manifest. One such shadowy phenomenon, known as “pig butchering,” has recently come…

“You have my iPhone” scam sparks warning By Greg Collier In the age of social media, viral content isn’t always about dance challenges or cute animal videos. Sometimes, it serves a more critical purpose – like spreading awareness about scams that could potentially harm or rob…

The truth about Amazon product testing opportunities By Greg Collier Social media platforms and even physical mailings are rife with advertisements promising the chance to become an Amazon product tester, but not all of these opportunities are what they seem. Recently, a…

New prison scam preys on vulnerable families By Greg Collier A new scam has emerged, proving successful due to its narrow focus on families with loved ones in prison. Scammers, armed with an unsettling depth of private information, reach out to individuals with incarcerated…

IRS warns of latest income tax scam By Greg Collier As Tax Day looms closer, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is ramping up its efforts to caution taxpayers against falling victim to common scams that could jeopardize their financial security. In its latest warning, the IRS…

Social Security number scam leads to loss of $500K By Greg Collier A resident of central Ohio, fell victim to a Social Security number scam, losing hundreds of thousands of dollars and upending her life’s plans. Her harrowing experience serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting…