Common Scams
This scam involves scammers establishing a fake relationship with the victim. These scammers often pretend to be overseas and typically ask their victims to pay for visas, travel expenses, and medical expenses for them to come to the United States. These scams ore often dragged out for a long time, allowing the scammer to repeatedly take advantage of the victim.
Romance Scam
Phone Numbers
Any phone number that does not match known contact.
If socially isolated...
If someone claims to be a government entity, trusted organization, or family member and requests money...
Comply
Email in all caps saying you've won a large sum of money. The email sender is john-smith23425@aol.com.
- message saying you've won money
- email doesn't match who they claim to be
In this scam a caller tries to gain your trust by impersonating someone close to you such as a grandchild. In this scam, the fake grandchild will pretend to be in distress and in need of financial assistance. Other versions of this scam have callers impersonate an arresting officer, doctor, or lawyer trying to “help” your grandchild and pressure you to send them money.
Grandparent Scam
Spelling and Grammar
Be on the lookout for spelling and grammar errors.
If someone presents as an authority figure and requests payment...
verify their identify, hang up the phone and contact them via numbers listed on their official website
An email looks suspicious, but says you won a large amount of money...
Open the email, click on a link, communicate with whoever sent it
You receive a message saying your email account must be verified to avoid deactivation. Respond within 24 hrs or your account will be deactivated. To verify account please provide social security number.
- deactivation threat
- request for sensitive information
- demand for immediate action
These scams appear to come from a legitimate source such as a bank or debt collection agency. These scammers will call, text, or send emails that appear legitimate. They may claim your bank account has been compromised and ask for sensitive information such as a password, account number, or social security number to “secure” the account. They also may threaten consequences for unpaid bills or fees. Although they may appear authentic, they are all fake. These people can fake caller ID information and create email accounts and links that look real.
Financial Services Scam
Payment
any payment requested in an untraditional method or requesting immediate payment
If someone presents as a trusted organization...
Practice healthy skepticism, look out for red flags like poor spelling and grammar. Avoid any requests for online payments that are not directly thorough an official website.
You receive a phone call from an unknown number.
Answer it
You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be working for your financial institution. They tell you that your account has been locked due to unusual activity and you must provide personal information to unlock account. They caller ID number does not register as a known contact.
- asking for personal information over the phone
- call from an unknown number
- claim to be from the bank
In this scam, criminals hack into your devices and cause a technical issue. Typically, the victim’s phone or computer screen will go blank and display a pop-up with a phone number to dial for help. The scammer on the other end of the line will ask for permission to access your device remotely to fix the issue and now the scammer has remote access to your sensitive information and may even demand a repair fee to fix the issue they created.
Tech Support Scam
Emails
Any that appear unofficial or have email addresses that do not match
If a family member calls and asks for money...
Verify their identity. If the number they are calling from is not saved in your phone, hang up and call the saved phone number of the contact to confirm it is truly them you are speaking with
A caller from an unknown number calls and claims to be the IRS, they say you owe back taxes and you must pay them immediately to avoid consequences.
Stay on the phone and comply.
Someone you have established an online relationship with is asking for financial assistance for an important medical procedure.
- you met the person online and have never met in real life
- they are asking for financial support
Scammers call potential victims, like yourself, claiming to be a government entity such as the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare. They often threaten legal consequences for “unpaid taxes,” or threaten to cut-off benefits unless you provide them with personal information. They use the information they gather from these victims to commit identity theft and often demand payments via wire transfers, cash, or pre-paid debit cards.
Government Impersonation Scam
Personal Information
Be wary of anyone asking for sensitive or personal information.
If someone is pressuring you to act quickly...
Pause and take time to think before acting. Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act quickly. That way, you don’t have time to think or check out their story. Don’t rush, do your research or speak with someone you trust before making any rash decisions.
Send them money.
Your computer screen goes blank and displays the message. "Your computer has virus! Please call the following number to protect your computer and get rid of the virus."
- unexpected technological issue prompting you to call a number to fix the issue