Protect Yourself From Financial Scams
Losing money or property to scams and fraud can be devastating. You can protect yourself and your loved ones by knowing what to look out for. Please review these top scams that are targeting the elderly and young alike.
Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites to capitalize on the victim’s desire to find companions.
Tech support scam: Criminals pose as tech support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues. The scammers gain remote access to victims’ devices and sensitive information.
Government impersonation scam: Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to provide funds or other payments.
Sweepstakes/charity/lottery scam: Criminals claim to work for legitimate charitable organizations to gain victims’ trust. Or they claim their targets have won a foreign lottery or sweepstake, which they can collect for a “fee.”
How Can You Protect Yourself?
Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action. Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one.
Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door service offers. Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses.
Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see a pop-up message or locked screen. Pop-ups are regularly used by perpetrators to spread malicious software. Enable pop-up blockers to avoid accidentally clicking on a pop-up.
Protect your identity if a criminal gains access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts, and monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity.
Speak Up And Report It
If you feel you are the victim of fraud or financial crime, we recommend you contact the following agencies:
Local police or law enforcement to report the crime and obtain a police report
Your bank or credit union to report the crime and secure your accounts
Local District Attorney