To Good To Be True
Someone claiming to be from the Massachusetts Lottery calls you and says you've won $100,000 after your name was entered into a Mass Lottery Sweepstakes. They need your personal information to transfer money to you. Could this be true?
NO...however if you entered into any online Lottery Sweepstakes you must go down to one of their locations and claim monetary funds at the appropriate Lottery branches. This is not done over the phone.
Someone claiming to be from the dreaded IRS calls you to go over missed tax information and debts owed from previous years. They threaten you stating they can withhold your Social Security check. This may scare you, but before you panic what should be your first clue about this call?
THE IRS DOES NOT CALL YOU!! EVER!!
Someone friends you on FB this seems ok with you so you talk, they ask personal questions to get to know you and vice versa, before you know it you talk every day. Then one day they start to tell you they need money. Is this your problem?
NO, tell them to get a job!!
A person calling from Verizon reminds your bill is due. You pay regularly and timely with your check. They are claiming you need to pay with a gift card, and want you to go out and purchase a GC from a site they recommend. What can I do?
Hang up!! Do not ever purchase gift cards to pay bills or take direction from the site they choose.
The cast of Dancing with the Stars calls you and states you won a trip to be on the show. You must first give them your personal information and front money for a plane ticket and a hotel. Could this be true?
Absolutely NOT!!
Some one claiming to be your health insurance company calls you stating you need to pay for your medications. They want your SS and bank account to get a payment started. You remember you belong to EC and do not pay for medications, what should you do next?
HANG UP!!
Someone from the group Aerosmith send you a text message asking to you to join the fan club. It looks legitimate, so you join and continue to exchange texts with Steven Tyler the lead singer. Then one day he asks you send money to be part of the ultra fan club because he really likes you and wants you to be by his side. You feel special...are you?
NO!! it's a scam, Steven Tyler and most musicians and celebrities DO NOT handle their own fan mail or websites. And no celebrity needs your money!!
True or False...I should be reviewing my monthly bank and/or Credit Union statements monthly to make sure everything is legitimate and no one accessing money from my accounts/statements.
TRUE! Keep track of your routine spending.
You receive a Facebook message from formers Beatles star Paul McCartney, he says he wants to be your friend and he can fly you to visit with him. But first you need to give him personal information and go 1/2 with him on paying for a hotel. Could this be true?
Absolutely NOT!! Paul McCartney does not need your HELP!! to be his friend and he does not need your money!! LET IT BE!!
A man knocks on your door and states he's from the electric company. He has ID on his shirt and looks legitimate. He claims the company is aware your behind on your electric bill. He states he can help you by assisting you in making a payment today to him today. What should happen next?
Tell him you have the flu and close the door!! Call the electric company and report this, you may even need to call the police for someone misrepresenting them self from a utilities company rep. DO NOT give money or account information.
You met Joe in a chat room, you seem to really hit it off talking. You continue to do so for 6 months. He's never asked you for anything. Suddenly 1 day he starts by telling you the difficult situation he's in and needs $800 to help him out. What should you do?
Nothing, explain you don't have the means to help anyone. If he persists, end all communication.
Remember it is NOT your role to rescue people you never met, and you know very little about out of their situations.
True or false...When setting up a PIN number you should NEVER use the last 4 of your social security number or birthday dates.
TRUE! This may be to too easy for a scammer to get into your accounts.
You get the infamous letter from the Publishers Clearing House, what do you do??
RIP IT UP AND THROW IT AWAY!!
Someone calls you claim got be a rep from your bank. They panic you and say the bank has been hacked and stole your information and money. They want all new information from. Would they call and and ask you for all this information?
No!
You receive a call from a person stating to be a lawyer from X county. He says they have put your grandchild in jail for reckless speeding. They tell you they can release him from the rough prison he's about to put in after his court date tomorrow if you quickly send $1500 to them tonight to get him out. This is upsetting. What do you do next?
Hang up! Posting bail doesn't work that way. Calm down. Call your family, your grandchild...if you even one! Never give money.
True or false...you can create a plan with your family to prevent scams from happening to you like "the grandparent scam"
True. Coming up with a plan of what to do if someone claiming to be your family called and was in distress. Go over details only your family would know.
Someone claiming to be Royal Cruise lines calls you and states you've been selected to receive a cruise around the world. This idea sounds exciting to you because you've never been on a cruise. One of the things they need is your SS and and Bank Account info to get you registered to cruise. Does this sound legit?
NO it's a scam. You are not required to give your SS and bank account info to cruise line. If you booked a cruise through a legit travel agency, they go over how to pay for the cruise and travel documents needed i.e. Passport.
You receive a hand written letter (true story) The letter is addressed to you and written nicely and it's a friend whom you speak with on occasion. She tells you a close member of her family member has Cancer. This person tells you they need money to visit their Aunt. Is this a scam? and what do you do next?
Yes, it's a scam... no close friend is going to mail you a letter asking you for money. This is not the days of the Pony Express. People who are close to you will call!
True or false, You should report a scam if it happened you. Even if you feel embarrassed, ashamed, you should report it to someone you trust and local authorities. Why is this important?
TRUE 100%
It's important even though you feel duped because as a society we have to try and stop these fraudulent scams from happening to others. Scams happen to people of all ages and races, religions etc.