The following are the top five scams that Denver DA offices have reported on throughout the year. The Scam Spotter believes we will see these throughout 2023.
1.QR CODES 
QR codes are those square-shaped matrix barcodes that when scanned with a phone’s camera, directs a person to a website. QR codes are becoming ubiquitous as a marketing tool. Most QR codes are perfectly legitimate, but, as with all new technology, con artists use QR codes to scam consumers.
QR stands for ‘quick response’ and that’s just what scammers are hoping you’ll do, take out your phone and scan without looking at the website that the QR code directs you to. These fake codes will direct an unsuspecting victim to phishing websites, fake payment portals and possibly will connect to malware to infect your device.
QR Code Tips –Think before you act.
- Do not open links from an unknown source such as in an email.
- Confirm the QR code before scanning. If a friend sends you a code, check with them first before you scan.
- Hover over the QR code to see where you are being directed. Is it the restaurant menu or something nefarious?
- Treat the link you are directed to like any other potential link. If the URL isn’t what you think it should be, do not continue to the site.
- Check for tampering – is there a sticker over a sticker?
- Remember not to provide any personal information.
Here are more tips from the Better Business Bureau and a public service announcement from the FBI with their warnings about QR codes
2.Avoid Charitable Giving Fraud
Here’s what you need to know about how to avoid charity fraud. First, make sure you know exactly where you are sending your money. If you are not diligent about investigating the charity, you may end up being a victim of a scammer hoping to take advantage of your generosity. The best way to avoid charity fraud is to go online and do your research to make sure your money goes to a reputable organization.
Use these organizations to research legitimate charities:
The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search will identify if your donation is tax-deductible.
Keep these tips in mind when considering donating:
- Donate to charities you know and trust with proven track records.
- Designate your dollars to a program rather than the organization’s general fund.
- Do not assume that charity messages posted on social media are legitimate. Research the organization yourself. Search the organization name and add “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam” to your word search.
- Text-to-donate can be easy, but first confirm the number before you donate. The charge will show up on your mobile phone bill.
If you get a call from a new charity, ask them to mail their information to you versus providing money over the phone. If there is nothing to send, it’s likely there is nothing legitimate about the charity.
3.Sending Money Via an App 
Third-party payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, or other third-party payment apps, let you send money quickly and easily. But don’t let your guard down. Here’s how to use these services safely and what to do if things do go awry.
Safe Sending Tips:
Verify – before you send money, let the recipient know to expect the transfer and verify that you have their correct account address. If you send money to the wrong person, you may never see your money again.
- Know with whom you are speaking– Confirm and confirm again. If you receive an email from your grandson needing money, call him directly and make sure he has requested the money. Never offer personal information to someone who calls you, even if they say they are from your bank or another company.
- Stop and think. Scammers make an issue sound urgent so you don’t have time to think. If you are told to take actionright now and pay by Venmo or Zelle, it may very well be a scam.
- Use caution when purchasing something from online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace. A common marketplace scam has the buyer sending the seller a fake check over the amount of the purchase price. The scammer then claims it is an error and will try to convince the seller to use Venmo to refund the overpayment. If the seller falls for it, they’ll send the scammer money, and the first check will bounce.
What to Watch for:
- Bank employee impersonators – A scammer may call, email, or text pretending to be from your bank. They may say there is fraud on your account or try to trick you into providing personal information like your date of birth or account information to gain access to your account.
- Requests to send or transfer money – Fraudsters may try to trick you into thinking the bank has found suspicious activity on your bank account. Then, they will help you fix this issue by having you transfer money to yourself. But in reality, the account belongs to the scammer.
4.TAX SCAMS 
Tax scams can involve text message scams, e-mail schemes and phone scams all designed to gain your personal or tax information. These texts and emails can look legitimate but may contain bad links.
Remember the IRS will never call you out of the blue or use text messaging to discuss personal tax issues. Never click links or open attachments in unsolicited, suspicious, or unexpected text messages – whether from the IRS, state tax agencies or others in the tax community. When scammers succeed in learning a taxpayer’s Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIP), they may use that information to file a tax return and claim a refund under your name. That’s a form of identity theft.
Learn more here.
5.IDENTITY THEFT
Having your identity stolen can mean serious financial loss and damage to your credit. It can also be emotionally, psychologically, and financially damaging and can take a long time to repair the harm.
There are many ways someone can fall victim to identity theft, including data breaches, phishing attacks, malware, clicking on fake websites and emails and being hacked. That’s why it is critical to stay vigilant with your online activities and know how to keep your digital profile secure.
Keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t open mail from strangers.
- Make sure your devices are up to date.
- Use strong passwords and different passwords for different sites.
- Use two-factor authentication
- Hover over a URL before you click on a link to make sure you are being directed to the place you intended.
- Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi.
- Back up your data regularly.