Scams

A romance scam is when a new love interest tricks you into falling for them when they really just want your money. Romance scams start in a few different ways, usually online. Scammers may spend time getting to know you and developing trust to fool you into thinking the relationship is real before asking you for money, a loan, or access to your finances.

What to do: Be careful about who you connect with and what information you share online, or over texts or social media. Don’t send money or share sensitive personal information, such as bank account or credit card numbers or a Social Security number, with a new love connection. Learn more about how to avoid romance scams.

If you get a call from someone who sounds like a grandchild or relative asking you to wire or transfer money or send gift cards to help them out of trouble, it could be a scam. Artificial intelligence has made it easier for scammers to clone voices and alter images to make it seem like someone you know needs help. Meant to play on your emotions, this scam is among those commonly used to target older adults, especially during the holidays.

What to do: Beware of a caller who insists on secrecy and contact your relative yourself to verify the story. If you can’t reach them, try to get in touch with them through another trusted person, another family member, or their friends. Read more about other ways to protect older adults from fraud and financial exploitation.

In a lottery or prize scam, the scammers may call, text, or email to tell you that you’ve won a prize through a lottery or sweepstakes and then ask you to pay an upfront payment for fees and taxes. In some cases, they may claim to be from a federal government agency like the CFPB.

What to do: Avoid providing any personal or financial information, including credit cards or Social Security numbers, to anyone you don’t know. Also, never make an upfront payment for a promised prize, especially if they demand immediate payment. Learn more about lottery or prize scam red flags.

Scammers act as a technology support representative and offer to fix non-existent computer issues.

The scammer gains remote access to a victim's computer or phone and their personal information. 

A pop-up or blue screen appears on your computer, phone, or iPad/tablet with a warning sign that a virus has infected your device.

The message urges you to call a toll free number or click a link immediately to get technical help.

You will get a response from someone who claims to be working for a brand-name tech company, such as Apple/Google/Microsoft.

They will ask you to pay for tech support through gift cards or wire transfers. 

Use of emails and websites that falsely represent or claim to be associated w/ legitimate banks, financial institutions, or companies.

The scammers manipulate Internet users to disclose personal and financial data. 

Scammers send out fake emails or set up fake websites in an effort to steal your personal information.

Fraudsters always stay current with the news.

Lately, many of these phishing attempts use keywords such as “coronavirus,” “COVID-19” and “stimulus.”

A blackmailer’s mission is to scare you into sending them money by threatening to distribute private content—from your computer or phone, or shared with them over an email, text, or social media—that could embarrass you. They might ask you to wire them money, or send it using a mobile app, a gift card, or cryptocurrency. Sometimes these scammers are complete strangers and other times they might be someone you met online and thought you could trust.

What to do: Try to stay calm in spite of blackmailers’ intimidation and high-pressure tactics. Stop communicating with them and don’t pay them. Keep all messages as evidence to help law enforcement. Keep in mind that you don’t need to deal with this alone.

A charity scam is when a thief poses as a real charity or makes up the name of a charity that sounds real to get money from you.

These scams often increase during the holiday season as well as after natural disasters and emergencies, such as storms, wildfires, or earthquakes. Be careful when a charity calls to ask for donations, especially ones that suggest they’re following up on a donation pledge you don’t remember making. Also watch for scammers that try to get you to donate by using live streaming on social media platforms, altered images, or images or voices generated by artificial intelligence (AI). They typically ask you to send money online, often using cryptocurrency, so they can get your money quickly.

What to do: Ask for detailed information about the charity, including address and phone number. Look up the charity through their website or a trusted third-party source to confirm that the charity is real.

Debt settlement or debt relief companies often promise to renegotiate, settle, or in some way change the terms of a debt you owe to a creditor or debt collector. Dealing with debt settlement companies, though, can be risky and could leave you even further in debt.

What to do: Avoid doing business with a company that guarantees they can settle your debts, especially those that charge up-front fees before performing any services. Instead, you can work with a reputable nonprofit credit counseling program that can help you work with your creditors. Learn more about the risks of working with a debt settlement or relief company and other help that might be available.

Foreclosure relief or mortgage loan modification scams are schemes to take your money or your house, often by making a false promise of saving you from foreclosure. Scammers might ask you to pay upfront fees for their service, guarantee a loan modification, ask you to sign over the title of your property, or ask you to sign paperwork you don’t understand.

What to do: If you are having trouble making payments on your mortgage, a Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved housing counseling agency can help you assess your options and avoid scams. If you think you may have been a victim of a foreclosure relief scam, you may also want to find legal help through your local bar association or legal aid. Learn more about mortgage loan modification scams.

Mail fraud letters look real but the promises are fake. A common warning sign is a letter asking you to send money or personal information now in order to receive something of value later. Examples of mail fraud might include notices of prizes, sweepstakes winnings, vacations, and other offers to claim valuable items.

To learn more, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has identified common postal or mail fraud schemes.  The US Postal Inspection Service also provides tips on mail fraud and where to report suspicious mail and related scam emails or texts.  Read more about how to recognize and report mail fraud.