Cartel Scams

Good morning, folks and welcome back to Fraud Fridays! Let's dive into The Cartel Scam.
The cartel scam gained notoriety in 2020-2021 when it was covered by CBS, ABC, and the rest of the alphabet, but has been pervasive since before 2019. The premise is simple. A group of ne'er-do-wells sends a series of messages. These messages contain graphic imagery, gruesome threats, and baseless accusations. They will sometimes even contain your address and name! This will, of course, come alongside the promise that with money, they will stop. So, buy your freedom from the cartel and be done with it, right? No. Just like any other scam, it is all fearmongering. The inevitable result of you forking over money will be the scammer's realization that you are an easy mark. They will then step up their collection attempts against you. That having been said, the best option is to simply ignore these messages. The cartel isn't so financially voracious that they target individuals. They sell drugs on an incredible scale. Why would they risk their entire monopoly on one person's savings account? Simply put, they wouldn't. The message you received is from a sad and lonely scammer who just wants to make a quick buck with a barbed tongue.

Thank you very much, there is a lot of information about this con online as it has unfortunately become pervasive in our modern scam culture. Much like Social Security scams and the like, these fearmongering scams are perpetrated by some of the most rapacious scammers. As always vigilance, logic, and a second set of eyes are often the most reliable tactics in scam avoidance. Thank you very much for reading and have a fantastic day.