LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- From fake RiverLink texts to fraudulent Facebook sales, scams are happening in Kentucky and Indiana.
Scammers are taking over social media accounts and pretending to sell non-existent goods such as cars, appliances, and other big-ticket items.
Victims are being hit hard.
One of those victims is Micah Harter. She uses Facebook to share important moments in her life, including her breast cancer journey. But her account was hacked on Monday.
"I've shed a lot of tears," Harter said. "I feel violated. I've lost part of my life."
She was locked out of her account. When Harter tried to reset her password, she discovered an unknown email attached to her account. Every time she received a reset code, the hacker also received one.
"This person has not only stolen my account, but they've stolen my identity," Harter explained. "I'm so heartbroken."
The hacker has since used Harter's account to scam her friends and family out of thousands of dollars by selling more 50 fake items. This includes drum sets, washers, cars, campers and a KitchenAid mixer. The scammer even provided Harter's real address, instructing buyers to pick up the items there.
"My biggest fear is that people are going to show up at my door wanting their products," Harter said.
In her attempt to seek help from Facebook, Harter called a number she found on Google that claimed to be Facebook support. Unfortunately, that too turned out to be a scam, with the person on the other end asking for her debit card information.
"It's really scary, and it's so frustrating because I have nobody to contact," she added.
On the other side of the river, Tim Lewis, who works in tech support, received a text claiming to be from RiverLink. He immediately recognized it as a scam.
Aside from the toll rate being incorrect, the fake link in the text was "RiverLinks.org," while the legitimate website is "RiverLink.com."
"I'd just had my morning coffee and I got the ding, and I'm like, 'Oh, that's interesting,'" Lewis said. "What they hit you with is usually time-sensitive, so you have to act now, or you're either going to miss out."
Scams targeting RiverLink customers aren't new. The FBI issued a warning about it earlier this year.
During an interview in April, Tim Beam, the chief division counsel for the FBI's Louisville office, told us scammers are working hard to appear legitimate.
Whether it's the threat of missing out on a lower toll fee or the allure of a great deal on Facebook, authorities advise caution and vigilance to avoid falling victim to these scams.
The FBI has released a public service announcement warning drivers about the scam, and RiverLink has started notifying people through its website. The FBI's public service announcement recommends taking the following steps if you receive a fake text:
- File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center and be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed in the text.
- Check your account using the RiverLink's legitimate website.
- Notify RiverLink that you've received the text.
- Delete any smishing texts received.
- If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
You can also contact the FTC by clicking here.
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