One of the most widespread scams of today is the text message scam, where people pose as UPS, the police, or the IRS to try and get you to pay them. I almost fell for one such scam when I got an Email from somebody posing as the IRS demanding that I pay them $2,000 in Walmart gift cards. At first i panicked, as I had no clue that I owed the IRS anything due to me not making much money that year. What really caught my attention is that the “IRS” was asking for Walmart gift cards. I may have been an idiot 16 year old, but I managed to snatch my singular brain cell and come to the conclusion that this was a scam. No matter what, no government institution will ever require you to pay in a currency other than legal tender.
Categories: Uncategorized
8 Comments
Carla E · April 26, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Pretty sure i fell for the UPS scam at some point I still dont know what happened to my data but honestly afterwards i try to make sure I change my passcode and everything
chodge · April 26, 2026 at 2:35 pm
Probably got sold online. That’s how you start getting more and more scam calls.
Roxy · April 26, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Scams are so prevalent nowadays, yet there is little being done to educate people and keep them safe!
chodge · April 26, 2026 at 2:34 pm
I agree. Media literacy only really lasted a generation and a half before it fizzled out.
karina · April 26, 2026 at 2:27 pm
I agree i’ve also gotten emails from people posing to be ups or the IRS and i get a little scared but then i remember i don’t own anything and i haven’t ordered anything recently
chodge · April 26, 2026 at 2:33 pm
Thank you for the comment, I really appreciate it.
Cate · April 26, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Things have gotten worse scam-wise. With the rise of AI, people have been using Deepfake technology to try and extract money from old or vulnerable people. It’s sickening.
chodge · April 26, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Yeah. Ai has made some things worse nowadays