Dec 17, 2024 By Zach Petroff 4 min read

As Pennsylvanians celebrate the holiday season, a modern-day Grinch lurks in the shadows, threatening to steal more than just Christmas cheer. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that residents of the commonwealth lost a staggering $360 million to scams last year, making Pennsylvania sixth in the nation for online fraud victims.

“I believe that during the holiday seasons, scammers take advantage of people’s emotions and definitely use the holidays to defraud more individuals,” said Trooper Kaylee Barnhart, a state police spokesperson for barracks in Uniontown, Belle Vernon and Waynesburg.

The FBI reported that Americans lost $12.5 billion to online scams last year, up 22% from the previous year.

Richard Evanchec, FBI assistant special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office, said this year there has been a resurgence in “old-time” scams where fraudsters try to initiate contact by appearing like a legitimate, well-known business such as UPS or the post office.

“We’re seeing people get a text message that says a package is in transit and has been lost and then asks the target to click on a link that will cause their phones to immediately get infected with malware,” Evanchec said.

Barnhart said the vast majority of scams originate from electronic devices, where criminals create a sense of urgency to manipulate their victims. “A huge red flag is when they present a situation that demands immediate attention,” she cautioned.

Scammers often combine this urgency with an emotional element, exploiting victims’ fears and concerns, said Sarah Gustine, a protective supervisor at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging. She estimated the agency receives about 250 reports yearly about fraud.

And while the FBI reported that Americans over the age of 59 lost $3.4 billion to scams last year, all age groups are susceptible, said Greene County District Attorney Brianna Vanata.

“Scammers in general are becoming more and more savvy on how they are sending things to people,” Vanata said. “And it’s almost impossible at times to tell what’s real and what’s not.”

The nature of the crimes also makes it hard for a victim to get justice.

“It’s so easy to create a fake persona online and a fake email address,” Vanata said. “I think the difficulty lies in proving where these scams originate, so finding an actual person behind these fraudulent phishing attempts, that’s where the difficulty lies as a prosecutor.”

Occasionally, however, police are able to make an arrest.

Last month, state police in Uniontown said they were able to stop a scammer thanks to help from a quick thinking bank teller. Police said the teller called them after a Fayette County man came to withdraw nearly $30,000. The man told the teller he was under investigation for “illegal activities” and needed to withdraw all the money from his bank accounts.

When the alleged scammers came to his home to pick up the cash, police were there and arrested two men. Charges are pending against both.

To protect themselves, residents are advised to scrutinize emails and texts closely.

“Be wary of suspicious wording and return email addresses that appear unusual,” Vanata said. “If something seems off, trust your instincts and delete the message.”

How to help if someone is being scammed

If you suspect someone is being scammed, Sarah Gustine, a protective supervisor at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, suggested employing tact and kindness.

“Approach the subject gently. Anger is not a good way to respond,” she said. “And, be understanding.”

If the person is older, Gustine said, other factors such as dementia may be contributing to their propensity to fall for a scam. Age, however, is not a determining factor.

“Everybody is susceptible to these online scams, and frankly the scams move at the speed of social media,” said Richard Evanchec, FBI assistant special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office. “We live in a fast paced world right now weather information is at our fingertips.”

Gustine said those concerned that a loved one is becoming a scam victim can call the SWPAAA for help at 724-489-8080.