TRACKER. WE ALL KNOW THAT NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUWN, RIGHT? YOU ARE TRYING TO GET IN SHAPE AND A SCAMMER IS TRYING TO GET INTO YOUR WALLET. SO GO OUT AND BUY A FITNESS TRACKER, WHICH CAN HELP YOU TRACK YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. BUT A FITNESS TRACKER ALSO CONNECTS YOU WITH FRIENDS AND A LARGE COMMUNITY OF FITNESS ENTHUSIASTS. BUT SCAMMERS EXIST WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES. PEOPLE. IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS YOU START GETTING MESSAGES FROM A MEMBER OF THAT GROUP ASKING YOU ABOUT YOUR FITNESS GOALS, AND THEN THE CONVERSATION GETS A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THEN THEY START ASKING FOR MONEY WITH EMOTIONAL STORIES. THE SCAMMER MAY HAVE AN SICK ELDERLY PARENT, FOR EXAMPLE, OR A CHILD IN NEED OF MEDICAL TREATMENT. HERE ARE THE WARNING SIGNS OF THIS SCAM. THE SCAMMER WILL REQUEST YOU TO DEPOSIT MONEY OR TO USE A PREPAID DEBIT CARD TO SEND MONEY. THE LAST TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU BY EMAIL OR A MOBILE NUMBER OUTSIDE THE FITNESS APP. MORE TIPS. DO NOT POST A PHOTO OF YOURSELF AS A PROFILE ON THESE APPS. INSTEAD, USE A FREE AVATAR OR PHOTO. YOU CAN FIND IT ONLINE. DO NOT SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION SUCH AS RELATIONSHIP OR EMPLOYMENT STATUS WITH A STRANGER BECAUSE THE MORE THE SCAMMER KNOWS ABOUT YOU, THE MORE INFORMATION THEY HAVE TO MANIPULATE. THINK BEFORE ACCEPTING REQUESTS FROM STRANGERS. BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY IS FREE BUT IT CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS JUST CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO ALREADY
Scammers find victims via fitness trackers
Updated: 6:17 PM EDT June 21, 2023
While you’re trying to get in shape, a scammer might try to break into your wallet. Go out and buy a fitness tracker, which can help you track your physical activity throughout the day. A fitness tracker also connects you with friends and a large community of fitness enthusiasts. But scammers exist within those communities. Within a couple of weeks, you start getting messages from a group member asking about your fitness goals. Then the conversation becomes more personal. In a short period of time, they tell you exciting stories and start asking for money. The scammer might have an elderly parent who is ill or a child who needs medical attention. Here are the warning signs of this scam: The scammer will ask you to wire money or use a prepaid debit card to send them money. They will ask you to communicate via email or a mobile number outside of the fitness app. To avoid becoming a victim, keep these tips in mind: Don’t post a picture of yourself while a profile. Use an avatar or free stock photo. Don’t share personal information like relationship status or employment with a stranger. The more the scammer knows about you, the more information she has to manipulate you. Think before accepting requests from strangers. Being part of a community is rewarding, but it can also be dangerous. Only connect with people you already know.
While you’re trying to get in shape, a scammer might try to break into your wallet.
Go out and buy a fitness tracker, which can help you track your physical activity throughout the day.
A fitness tracker also connects you to friends and a large community of fitness enthusiasts.
But scammers exist within those communities.
In a couple of weeks you start getting messages from a group member asking about your fitness goals. Then the conversation becomes more personal.
In a short period of time, they tell you exciting stories and start asking for money.
The scammer might have an aging parent who is ill or a child who needs medical attention.
Here are the warning signs of this scam:
- The scammer will ask you to wire money or use a prepaid debit card to send money.
- They will ask you to communicate via email or a mobile number outside of the fitness app.
To avoid becoming a victim, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t post a photo of yourself as a profile. Use an avatar or free stock photo.
- Do not share personal information such as relationship status or employment with a stranger. The more the scammer knows about you, the more information he has to manipulate you.
- Think before accepting requests from strangers. Being part of a community is rewarding, but it can also be dangerous. Only connect with people you already know.
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