As the old year came to an end and the new one arrived, Gainesville Police report opening investigations into five fraud cases resulting in total losses of more than $5,000.
The victims ranged in age from 38 to 79.
Two of the cases accounted for $4,518 of $5,259 total. In each case, the victim was an individual, not a company. Three of them involved losses tied to fraudulent use of credit cards. The incidents occurred between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3.
How can you prevent yourself from becoming such a victim? The Better Business Bureau has some suggestions, and you’ll find them here: BBB Tip: 10 steps to avoid scams