Every year, we have members of our community who fall victim to scammers who are trying to steal money or identities, or falsely representing who they are.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid becoming their next victim:
Listen to the voice in your head – Scammers will pretend to be someone that you trust. This may be through email or social media, pretending to be a government or corporate entity or a friend or family member. This could also be a person or organization falsely promising you community, housing or friendship. If the voice in your head says that something is not quite right with this request, do some research before you respond.
Check it out – When in doubt, Google it! Simply search the organization’s name and “scam” or “complaint.” If this is a scam, you will may find information on the web about other people who have fallen victim.
Don’t count on your caller ID – Technology exists that allows scammers to fake their phone number on your caller ID. If you recognize the phone number, but not the voice on the other end of the line, hang up and call the real number to see who answers.
Don’t pay up front for a promise – We often see scams where the victim is told about a lottery that they won or an inheritance from a relative that they didn’t know. All that you have to do is wire some money and they can release the inheritance/award. If you do, your money is gone.
Talk to someone – The scammers are relying on you to make a quick decision. If you’re concerned about a high-pressure situation - before you give up your personal information, money or time commitment, talk to someone that you trust and see how they feel about your decision.
You can receive free scam alerts from the Federal Trade Commission in your email. To receive these alerts, go to ftc.gov/scams.
