SCAMS
- Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
- Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government or another large well-known company.
- 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 say there's a PROBLEM or a PRIZE
- They might say you’re in trouble with the government or you have won money in a lottery and need an account number to transfer the winnings.
- Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately
- Scammers want you to act before you have time to think.
- 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.
- Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way
- They often insist that 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.
- Block unwanted calls and messages
- Legitimate organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information
- Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect.
- Legitimate organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.
- Resist the pressure to act immediately.
- Legitimate businesses will give you time to make a decision.
- 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.
- 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.