Financial Scams

Listed below are some of the most commonly experienced scams and schemes, but there are certainly many more. Please take the time to educate yourself, your family, friends and colleagues. It can save you from experiencing financial losses and from becoming a victim of Identity Theft.

CHARITY FUNDRAISER SCAMS AND NATURAL DISASTER FRAUD

Charity Fundraiser Scams

When you get a call from a charity fundraiser, how do you know the caller is telling you the truth? Here are a few tips from the FTC. 

Donating to Relief Efforts

Hurricanes and other natural disasters bring out the best in people, who volunteer to help with cleanup efforts and make charitable contributions to victims. But a disaster also brings out the worst in people—and not just crooks and scam artists. Donate to relief efforts by visiting charitable websites directly. Do not click links in emails, texts or donate via unexpected phone calls. Contact the charity yourself and donate.

CREDIT CARD SCAMS

Spotting Scammy Emails

Let’s say you get an email about a charge to your credit card for something you aren’t expecting or don’t want. Your first instinct may be to immediately call the company or respond to the email and to stop the payment. Scammers know that, and are taking advantage of it in a new phishing scheme. Read more.

CRYTOCURRENCY SCAMS

Avoid a Bitcoin Scam

Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency or digital money. Cryptocurrency scams are now a popular way for scammers to trick people into sending money. The FTC website lists ways to avoid a cryptocurrency scam. 

EMAIL SCAMS

Email is on the Dark Web

Did you get an email saying your personal info is for sale on the dark web? Have you received emails warning that your sensitive personal information is being sold? Some emails list the stolen information, like all or part of the person’s Social Security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number. If you’ve gotten one of these emails, take these steps to help protect yourself against financial loss from identity theft.

IRS Emails about Economic Impact Payments

Did the IRS email about your Economic Impact Payment? If they asked you to pay them, that was a scammer, not the IRS. Read more about the fake IRS email that keeps popping into people's inboxes.

FAKE CHECK SCAMS

Fake Check Scam Targeting College Students

A scammer posing as a professor sends you an email. It uses a college domain name and a format like your.name@collegename.edu. The scammer offers you a job. Then, the scammer sends you a check, asks you to deposit it, send some of the money to someone else, and keep the rest as payment. The bank notices the check is fake and deducts the original check amount from your account. So, if you deposited a $1,000 check, they’ll take that back. But if you sent $400 to someone else, you’re now out $400 of your own money. Read more about this fake check scam.    Fraud and Older Adults

GIFT CARD SCAMS

Did someone tell you to pay with gift cards?

It’s a scam. Did they say you’ve won a prize or they're from the government and calling about a problem with your Social Security number? And, to collect your prize or solve the issue, you have to pay with gift cards? If they insist that you pay by gift card, it's a scam. Read more and watch a video about this scam by the FTC. 

Gift Card From Your Boss Scam

Did you get an email from your boss asking you for a favor? Does your boss need you to send gift cards to pay for an upcoming office party? Before you go out and pay up, ask yourself: is that really your boss? It could be a scammer trying to get your money. Read more about getting an unexpected email from your boss asking for a gift card.

IMPERSONATOR SCAMS

Amazon Impersonators: What You Need To Know

Has Amazon contacted you to confirm a recent purchase you didn’t make or to tell you that your account has been hacked? According to the FTC’s new Data Spotlight, since July 2020, about one in three people who have reported a business impersonator scam say the scammer pretended to be Amazon.

These scams can look a few different ways. In one version, scammers offer to “refund” you for an unauthorized purchase but “accidentally transfer” more than promised. They then ask you to send back the difference. What really happens? The scammer moves your own money from one of your bank accounts to the other (like your Savings to Checkings, or vice versa) to make it look like you were refunded. Any money you send back to “Amazon” is your money (not an overpayment) — and as soon as you send it out of your account, it becomes theirs. In another version of the scam, you’re told that hackers have gotten access to your account — and the only way to supposedly protect it is to buy gift cards and share the gift card number and PIN on the back. Once that information is theirs, the money is, too. Read more

The FBI won’t ask you for money — that’s a scam

Unwanted calls are annoying — but when a caller says they’re an FBI agent collecting on a legal judgment entered against you, it’s also scary. No matter how urgent and serious the call sounds, neither the judgment nor the agent are real. Read more about these FBI imposters.

Geek Squad Impersonators

Scammers are at it again, impersonating well-known businesses and trying to rip people off. This time they’re pretending to be from Geek Squad, Best Buy’s tech support service. Here’s what we’re hearing about the scam and what to do if you see it.

Government Impersonators

Scammers often pretend to be the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) isn't emailing to ask you for money or information. That's a scammer. Don't respond. Read more about these government impersonators.

Jury Duty Scam

The phone rings. You pick it up, and the caller identifies himself as an officer of the court. He says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller says he’ll need some information for "verification purposes"—your birth date, social security number, maybe even a credit card number. This is when you should hang up the phone. It’s a scam.

Child Tax Credit scammers are still reaching out

Many people have gotten their advance Child Tax Credit payments this year, but scammers are taking advantage of this new program to try to trick you out of money or information. They’re pretending to be the IRS, contacting people by phone, text, email, and social media — and sending people to official-looking websites that look just like the IRS. Before you respond to anyone who reaches out to you, here are a few things to know.

Will the FTC call or write you? Will they demand money?

Scammers trying to rip you off will often impersonate organizations or government agencies you know. Some even pretend to be from the Federal Trade Commission. But how can you know if it’s the FTC or if it’s a scammer impersonating the FTC? If someone who says they’re from the FTC demands money or threatens you, that’s not the FTC. Only scammers pretending to be the FTC will do that. The latest twist? Scammers are sending fake letters from Sam Levine, the Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, threatening to “shut down” your accounts for “unsanctioned” activity and demanding that you call an “officer” immediately. Don’t do it. Report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Here’s when and how the FTC will communicate with you:

JOB AND MONEY-MAKING SCAMS

Job or Money-making Scam Offer

Are you searching for a new job, investment, or business opportunity to boost your financial well-being? Learn how to avoid scammers’ sham offers that will cost — not earn — you money. Learn more about rejecting a job or money-making scam offer.

Scammers are relentless and keep advertising online in ads, on job sites, and social media. Knowing some of the red flags will help you spot these scams. 

Looking for a job? Scammers might be looking for you. Recent layoffs in industries like the tech sector have scammers fine-tuning their approaches to take advantage. They may advertise jobs on online, sometimes setting up fake websites, or look for targets on social media — all to try to steal your money and personal information. Here’s some advice to help you avoid job scams. 

Beware of any work-at-home scam offering easy money for minimum effort

Everyone’s seen them—seductive work-at-home opportunities hyped in flyers tacked to telephone poles, in newspaper classifieds, in your email, and all over the web, promising you hundreds or thousands of dollars a week for typing, stuffing envelopes, processing medical billing, etc. And it’s just a phone call or mouse click away...

These opportunities might be tempting during these uncertain economic times, but beware of any offers that promise easy money for minimum effort—many are scams that fill the coffers of criminals.

Below are a few of the most common work-at-home scams:

• Advance-fee: Starting a home-based business is easy! Just invest a few hundred dollars in inventory, set-up, and training materials, they say. Of course, if and when the materials do come, they are totally worthless…and you’re stuck with the bill.
• Counterfeit check-facilitated “mystery shopper”: You’re sent a hefty check and asked to deposit it into your bank account, then withdraw funds to shop and check out the service of local stores and wire transfer companies. You keep a small amount of the money for your “work,” but then, as instructed, mail or wire the rest to your “employer.” Sound good? One problem: the initial check was phony, and by the time your bank notifies you, your money is long gone and you’re on the hook for the counterfeit check.
• Pyramid schemes: You’re hired as a “distributor” and shell out big bucks for promotional materials and product inventories with little value (like get-rich quick pamphlets). You’re promised money for recruiting more distributors, so you talk friends and family into participating. The scheme grows exponentially but then falls apart—the only ones who make a profit are the criminals who started it.
• Unknowing involvement in criminal activity: Criminals—often located overseas—sometimes use unwitting victims to advance their operations, steal and launder money, and maintain anonymity. For example, they may “hire" you as a U.S.-based agent to receive and re-ship checks, merchandise, and solicitations to other potential victims…without you realizing it’s all a ruse that leaves no trail back to the crooks.

NIGERIAN LETTER OR "419" FRAUD

Did you receive a letter mailed from Nigeria?

Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter mailed from Nigeria offers the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that the author—a self-proclaimed government official—is trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers, and other identifying information using a fax number provided in the letter. Some of these letters have also been received via email through the Internet. The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim, who has demonstrated a “propensity for larceny” by responding to the invitation, to send money to the author of the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons.

• If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter to the U.S. Secret Service, your local FBI office, or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. You can also register a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant.
• If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
• Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.

OLDER ADULT SCAMS

Fraud and Older Adults

Every year millions of people report fraud, scams, and bad business practices to the Federal Trade Commission. Read more about scams that have an impact on older adults.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission are partnering together to help older adults, their families, and friends know what to do if someone demands payment by wire, gift cards, cryptocurrency, and where to report fraud. Learn more.

Call to Grandparents for Emergency Money

Maybe you’ve already sent a card to your grandmother, grandfather, or the older adult in your life. But if you haven’t told them lately that you love them, pick up the phone and call, too. While you’re catching up, remind them that you’ll never pressure them to wire you money or buy you gift cards — but a scammer might. Read more about scammers using fake family emergencies to target older adults.

Senior Citizen Fraud

The threat to seniors is growing…and changing. Baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are now the largest segment of our population—about 78 million people. That means that the number of senior citizens is rising. Many younger boomers also have considerable computer skills, so criminals are modifying their targeting techniques—using not only traditional telephone calls and mass mailings, but also online scams like phishing and email spamming.

Below are a few tips to avoid being victimized:

• Shred credit card receipts and old bank statements.
• Close unused credit card or bank accounts.
• Don’t give out personal information via the phone, mail, or Internet unless you initiated the contact.
• Never respond to an offer you don’t understand.
• Talk over investments with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor.
• Require all plans and purchases to be in writing.
• Don’t pay in advance for services.

ONLINE SELLING

Selling stuff online? Here’s how to avoid a scam

Selling stuff online can be a great way to make some extra cash. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and other sites attract a lot of buyers — and scammers. Here are some ways scammers try to cheat you and what to do about it.

Online Auction Fraud

There are a variety of online auction frauds, but here are some of the more common ones to watch out for:

• Overpayment fraud targets the seller. A seller advertises a high-value item—like a car or a computer—on the Internet. A scammer contacts the seller to purchase the item, then sends the seller a counterfeit check or money order for an amount greater than the price of the item. The purchaser asks the seller to deposit the payment, deduct the actual sale price, and then return the difference to the purchaser.
• Wire transfer schemes start with fraudulent and misleading ads for the sale of high-value items being posted on well-known online auction sites. When buyers take the bait, they are directed to wire money to the crooks using a money transfer company. Once the money changes hands, the buyer never hears from them again.
• Second-chance schemes involve scammers who offer losing bidders of legitimate auctions the opportunity to buy the item(s) they wanted at reduced prices. They usually require that victims send payment through money transfer companies, but then don’t follow through on delivery.

PHONE CALLS THAT ARE UNWANTED

How to Spot and Block Scam Calls

Calls from scammers are annoying and can cause a lot of trouble when you realize, too late, that they’re scams. What’s even worse? When they target a client or loved one you’re caring for. Learn how to spot and block scam calls.

RANSOMWARE

Reveton virus

Reveton is described as drive-by malware because unlike many viruses—which activate when users open a file or attachment—this one can install itself when users simply click on a compromised website. Once infected, the victim’s computer immediately locks, and the monitor displays a screen stating there has been a violation of federal law.

The bogus message goes on to say that the user’s Internet address was identified by the FBI or the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section as having been associated with child pornography sites or other illegal online activity. To unlock their machines, users are required to pay a fine using a prepaid money card service.

The IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) suggests the following if you become a victim of the Reveton virus:

• Do not pay any money or provide any personal information.
• Contact a computer professional to remove Reveton and Citadel from your computer.
• Be aware that even if you are able to unfreeze your computer on your own, the malware may still operate in the background. Certain types of malware have been known to capture personal information such as user names, passwords, and credit card numbers through embedded keystroke logging programs.
• File a complaint and look for updates about the Reveton virus on the IC3 website.

RENTAL CAR SCAMS

Avoid rental car scammers driving off with your money

Scammers are posing as rental car companies, setting up their own websites, and advertising fake customer service phone numbers, all to convince travelers they’re legit. Then, they’re asking people to pre-pay with a gift card or prepaid debit card. To avoid rental car scammers driving off with your money, read more.

ROMANCE SCAMS

Online Dating Scam

Here’s how the scam usually works. You’re contacted online by someone who appears interested in you. He or she may have a profile you can read or a picture that is emailed to you. For weeks, even months, you may chat back and forth with one another, forming a connection. You may even be sent flowers or other gifts. But eventually, a time will come when your new-found “friend” is going to ask you for money. So you send money…but rest assured the requests won’t stop there. There will be more hardships that only you can help alleviate with your financial gifts. Your friend may also send you checks to cash since he or she is out of the country and can’t cash the checks themselves, or your friend may ask you to forward a package to him or her. In addition to losing your money to someone who had no intention of ever visiting you, you may also have unknowingly taken part in a money laundering scheme by cashing phony checks and sending the money overseas, and by shipping stolen merchandise (the forwarded package).

Achy Fakey Heart

You’ve heard of romance scams. But do you know how they happen? They start when scammers create fake profiles on dating apps or social media. Then, those scammers strike up a relationship with their targets and work to build trust. Sometime later, they make up a story and ask for money. So how do you spot a romance scammer? Here are some things to watch for.

Did your dating app match just ask you for money?

You or your friends might be thinking about love. But not everyone is — some are just looking to get into your pockets. Read on so you can spot and report scammers before they trick someone you care about out of money.

Fraudsters to the left of you, fakers to the right

Romance scammers typically spin complicated stories to convince people to send money. In 2021, people reported scammers asking them to send money for one (imaginary) health or financial crises after another. Other scammers pretended to be successful cryptocurrency investors and used romance to lure people into sending money for bogus investments. Read more.

Money Mule Scam

Scammers are looking for people to help them move stolen money. They visit online dating, job search, and social media sites, create fake stories, and make up reasons to send you money, usually by check or Bitcoin. Then they tell you to send that money to someone else by using gift cards or wire transfers. But they never say the money is stolen, the stories are lies, or — if you sent the money — you might be acting as what law enforcement calls a money mule. Read more.

No money, honey.

It’s never too late to find love, and lots of dating sites and apps are there to help. But scammers are out to steal your heart, too…and then steal your money. This Older Americans Month, let’s talk about romance scams. These can happen when someone makes a fake profile on dating sites, apps and social media. They then message you to get a relationship going, build your trust, and connect.

Then, they hit you up for money. “Baby, I want to come see you but I’m short on funds. Can you send me $500 for a ticket?” Or, “I love you, honey. But we may not be able to talk anymore because my phone is about to get cut off. I need $300 to pay the bill…” Get the idea?

In the name of love, you send money. They come back with other lies to get still more money. Then the messages stop. You can’t reach them. They’ve taken off with a piece of your heart and big chunk of your wallet.

Read more on how you can avoid these heartless imposters.

SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

Is someone trying to get your Social Security number?

A growing scam of people calling and pretended to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and try to get your Social Security number or your money is happening. Click here for some examples of what these Social Security scams sound like.

TECH SUPPORT SCAMS

How can you spot a tech support scam?

Before you click the link in the pop up or call that number, stop. Talk to someone you trust. Read and watch a video about tech support scams by the FTC.

If you get a call or message that your computer’s security is at risk, it’s a scam. Scammers often pretend they’re from a well-known company, like Microsoft or Apple. You’d never let a stranger into your house. Don’t let one into your computer. Read more on how to react to an “urgent problem” with your computer.

TEXT SCAMS

Texts to you — from your own phone number

Did you get a text from your own number? That’s a scam. Scammers are always thinking up ways to put a new spin on their criminal tricks. This time, they’re sending spam texts to you — from your own phone number. Read more about getting texts from your own number.

"YOU'VE WON" SCAMS

“You’ve won! Now pay us” Scam

If you get a call from someone saying, “You’ve won,” don’t believe the hype. They'll ask you to pay a processing fee, shipping fee, or taxes to claim your prize. Don't let them steal your money. Read more about this scam at the FTC's comsumer information website.

Lottery Scams

"Congratulations! You may receive a certified check for up to $400,000,000 U.S. CASH! One Lump sum! Tax Free! Your odds to WIN are 1-6. Hundreds of U.S. citizens win every week using our secret system! You can win as much as you want!"

Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is. International con artists use lottery scams such as this to defraud Americans out of more than $120 million a year.

What should you know about foreign lotteries? They’re illegal. Federal law prohibits the cross-border sale or purchase of lottery tickets by phone or mail. They’re losing propositions. Foreign lottery scam artists will drain your bank account or steal the money you sent to pay for the tickets, duties, and taxes.