Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam. Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone - a friend, a family member, a neighbor - what happened. And never deposit a check and send money back to someone. 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. Anyone who pressures you to pay or give them your personal information is a scammer. Resist the pressure to act immediately. Legitimate businesses will give you time to make a decision. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy. 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. What You Can Do to Avoid a Scamīlock unwanted calls and text messages. Take steps to block unwanted calls and to filter unwanted text messages.ĭon’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. Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money. 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.
Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it. Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information. Or that there’s a virus on your computer. Or someone in your family had an emergency. They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE. So the name and number you see might not be real. They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
Identity Theft and Online Security Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu itemsįour Signs That It’s a Scam 1.Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items.Money-Making Opportunities and Investments.Jobs and Making Money Show/hide Jobs and Making Money menu items.
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