06/08/2021: How To Avoid A Scam

Four signs that it’s a scam:

Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know. Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some scammers pretend to be from a business you know, like the utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations. They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID, so the name and number you see might not be real.

Scammers may say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE. They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Or you owe money. Or someone in your family had an emergency. Or that there’s a virus on your computer. Some scammers will say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and you need to verify some information. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes, but you have to pay a fee to get the winnings.

Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.  Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted or crash.

Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way. They often insist you pay by sending money through a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back of the card. Some will send you a check (which will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then request you send them money for the fraudulent check.

What you can do to avoid a scam:

Block unwanted calls and text messages. Take steps to block unwanted calls and to filter unwanted text messages.

Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request you didn’t expect. Legitimate organizations won’t call, email, or text you to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit cards number. If you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy, or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.

Know how scammers tell you to pay. Never pay someone who insists you pay with a gift card or by using a money transfer service. And never deposit a check and send money back to someone.

Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone – a friend, a family member, a neighbor – what happened. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam.

If you were scammed or think you saw a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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