Stay informed about the latest scams so you can spot them and prevent yourself from becoming a victim.
The Scam: Card Fraud
The scammer calls or texts you about a charge asking for a “yes or no” answer. Once you text back or engage with the scammer, they reel you in little by little, gaining your trust. They typically spoof your financial institution’s main phone number. They will sometimes even have the card or part of the card number but not always. The scammer states he is with the fraud dept and he is closing out the card and needs to get a new card ordered. To verify, they need information like social security number, date of birth, full card number, CVV codes, access to online banking or a code being “texted” to the member. They then gain access to your identity, card and online banking.
The Scam: Romance, Employment, Loan & Rental Scams
Most often the scammer is the one to initiate contact, but they can also bait you with social media posts or ads. If they ask you to use your account and ask for that information, STOP. Many times a quick online search can expose the scam as they have usually done it several times to other victims. Red flags include: the terms are too good to be true; scammer sends you a check electronically by email for you to print or remote deposit into your account and asks you to Venmo/CashApp or Paypal them money for app fees; scammer asks you to keep your activities a secret from the bank; scammer asks you to mislead the bank about what you are doing; scammer asks for gift cards or your login credentials.
The Scam: Warrants/Taxes/Legal Aid & Immigration
The scammer uses fear to get funds sent to them. They will typically ask for wires, CashApp/Venmo, cash or gift cards. All government entities do take checks and they don’t take CashApp/Venmo or gift cards. A simple online search can expose these scammers. If not, reaching out to local law enforcement can help. If immigration status is an issue, the victims are typically afraid to go to authorities but they can reach out to a lawyer or local charitable or legal organization who can advise them.
The Scam: Phishing (Email)
Be cautious if the email –
- Doesn’t use your full name or has a generic greeting.
- Has incorrect logos, design or looks strange.
- Contains suspicious website links.
Be wary of false urgency.
Scams often create a false sense of urgency and they may include attachments in an email.
Watch out for offers that seem too good to be true.
Scammers can use false promises like money in payment of a favor, lottery wins or unsolicited job offers.
Never share personal, credit card or account information via email or text.
The Scam: Pretexting
Pretexting is when scammers create a false scenario using a made-up identity or pose as someone you know. They can even pose as an employee of a business you work with to get you to divulge personal information.
How it works - Pretexting with authority
You receive a call demanding immediate assistance. The caller speaks in an aggressive tone. They may establish authority by using an official sounding title. They can use scare tactics to persuade you into giving away sensitive information.
Pretexting with obligation
You receive a call from someone posing as an employee from a software company. They tell you they have found malicious activity on your computer and they imply you accessed a malicious website. They may demand you update your password with a more secure password they provide.
The Scam: QR codes
QR codes are everywhere nowadays. These scannable codes are used for payments, registrations, advertising and information by businesses, brands and fraudsters. Fraudulent QR codes redirect individuals to fake or malicious websites designed to steal sensitive personal information, authentication information and payment data or install malware on their devices. Quishing (phishing with a QR code) has become more widespread.