Hello Tipp City! Marc the Cop here,

Hello Tipp City! Marc the Cop here,

This week, my youngest daughter lives in Columbus and is staying with us. She works for a major credit card company. Carole told me about the recent credit card scam plaguing consumers: You get an unsolicited call from the scammer promising a zero percent credit card for life. The catch is that it is only suitable for balance transfers, and you cannot use the card.

·         The 0% credit card scam is a deceptive practice where scammers lure individuals with the promise of a credit card offering 0% interest rates, often targeting those seeking to consolidate debt or reduce interest payments. While legitimate 0% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) credit card offers exist, scammers exploit the appeal of these deals to trick victims into revealing personal and financial information or falling into fraudulent traps.

·         One standard version of the scam involves unsolicited phone calls, emails, or text messages claiming to be from a bank or credit card company. Scammers tell the victim they qualify for an exclusive 0% interest rate on their existing credit card debt. To proceed, they ask for sensitive information such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or banking details, often under the pretense of verifying identity. Once this information is provided, the scammers can commit identity theft, make unauthorized charges, or open new lines of credit in the victim’s name.

·         Another tactic involves fake balance transfer offers. Victims are told they can transfer their existing credit card debt to a new card with a 0% interest rate. Scammers may ask for upfront “processing fees” or “activation charges” to initiate the transfer. After receiving the payment, the scammer disappears, and the promised balance transfer never occurs, leaving the victim with both their original debt and the loss of the upfront fee.

·         Some scams use fake websites or emails that closely mimic legitimate banks or credit card companies. These phishing sites collect login credentials and personal details, leading to unauthorized access to the victim’s financial accounts.

·         To avoid falling victim to a 0% credit card scam, it’s crucial to stay vigilant. Never provide sensitive information over the phone or online unless you initiated the contact and know the recipient’s identity. Always verify offers directly with your bank or credit card company by contacting them through official channels. Be wary of unsolicited offers that pressure you to act quickly or demand upfront payments.

·         Legitimate 0% APR offers are typically promoted through official bank communications and don’t require upfront fees. You can avoid these scams and protect your financial health by staying cautious and informed.

Remember the 9 PM routine! The Nine PM routine is a nightly reminder to residents to remove valuables from their vehicles, lock their vehicle doors, lock the doors to their residences, turn on exterior lights, and activate all alarms and security systems.

That is all for this week! Please be safe and care for one another.

I'll see you in church on Sunday!

Sgt. Marc Basye (Ret.)

Do you have a suggestion for the Tipp of the Week? Your input is valuable to us. You can email me at Marcthecop@tippgazette.com!

The opinions and statements in this column are those of the author, who is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This column is for entertainment purposes only. Persons referred to may be fictional for comedic purposes only.