How to identify and avoid scams

Scammers pretend to be from an organization or someone you know

They might use a real organization name like the FTC, Social Security Administration, IRS, Medicare, your Financial Institution, or any business, charity, or utility company.

They use familiar communication to trick you

Scammers use technology that can change the phone number that appears on your caller ID using numbers of family members, or even your Financial Institution. This means the name and number you see might not be real. They may also text you from an unknown number pretending to be your Financial Institution.

Scammers also send emails pretending to be an organization or your Financial Institution with a link to a fake website asking for your sign-in credentials.

Scammers will claim there’s an issue or that you won a prize

They may claim you are in trouble with the government, that you owe money, or someone in your family had an emergency. They also may say there’s an issue with your account and that you need to verify information to unlock it. Other scammers will lie and say you won a prize in a lottery drawing or a sweepstakes, but state you have to pay a fee in order to receive the prize.

They pressure you to act fast

Scammers want you to act fast, so you don’t have time to think. If you are on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up, so you can’t confirm if their story or problem is true. They may threaten to sue you, arrest you, or take away your business license. They will say anything to get you to act fast.

Scammers want you to pay them in specific ways

Scammers will ask you to move funds to Cash App, Apple Cash, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or purchase gift cards or send digital currency such as Bitcoin. They may also ask you to wire money through wire transfer companies like MoneyGram or Western Union. Some scammers will send you a fake check unbeknownst to you, ask you to deposit it, and then ask you to send them money.