Non-profit addresses increase in scam, fraud victims

WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Weslaco non-profit is warning residents of fraudulent activity after seeing an increase of Spectrum scams in the area.

The Better Business Bureau is letting residents know that the scams are now being delivered through the mail.

"Before if used to be a text message or an email and now they're basically mailing letters out to consumers," said Hilda Martinez, President at the Better Business Bureau.

Martinez says scams can show in various forms including phone call cash prize claims from scammers who claim to be larger businesses.

"We've seen it with Spectrum, Clearinghouse, publishers," Martinez said. "Consumers need to know that just because you receive a letter does not necessarily mean it's actually that company."

Martinez encourages residents verify directly with a company through an accurate number through an official website.

Spectrum has released a statement on the scam and fraud alerts happening nationwide.

We've been seeing an increase in fraudulent texts, emails and phone calls claiming to be from reputable businesses, including Spectrum. It’s important not to respond to these messages or encourage cybercriminals to continue to contact you.

Customers who suspect a message is a scam should trust their intuition and report the crime to local authorities. You can find additional info about different types of scams at USA.gov. We encourage you to tell friends and family about the risks of common scams, and revisit this site periodically to check for updates and warnings to protect yourself and those you care about.