Are You Smarter Than A Fraudster?

The goal of fraudsters is to trick you into doing things you normally would not do. Always take a step back and ask yourself - Is this really an emergency? Is this true? Do you know the person that is asking you to do something? Have you verified the information?

 

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you could be involved in fraud or you’re about to be scammed:

Is the person you are sending money to:

  • Giving a sense of urgency?
  • Threatening or scaring you or a loved one?
  • Instructing you to purchase and send gift cards, any type of cryptocurrencies or cash through the mail?
  • Coaching you on what to say to the bank or loved ones?
  • Are you sending funds to someone you have never met in person?
  • Are you cashing a check that is a greater amount than it should be and returning part of the funds back to the sender or new employer; or is the check drawn on a business or individual that is different from the person you’re in contact with?
  • Did you respond to an email, phone call or text message requesting you to confirm, update or provide account numbers or personal information?

If any of the answers to the questions above is a YES, then chances are you are a victim of fraud and need to take immediate action to recover your funds and protect your identity. Below are some of the actions you should take immediately:

  • If you paid with a debit or credit card or gave your bank account information, contact the company that issued the card or your bank immediately to close the account and report the fraud so an investigation can be initiated. This does not guarantee your money will be returned but will stop any additional funds from being removed or sent.
  • If you gave your personal information, such as social security number, account numbers, address, date of birth or passwords, contact Identity Theft.gov at https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/. This site will assist you in reporting identity theft and get a recovery plan started.
  • If you paid with a gift card, contact the gift card company and advise their cards are being used in a scam and you are a victim and ask them to refund your money. Be sure to keep the gift card itself and the gift card receipt to assist in their investigation.
  • If funds were wired, contact your bank immediately to see if the wire can be stopped or reversed.
  • If you paid using cryptocurrency or if you are a victim to a cyber-crime file a report with IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) at https://www.ic3.gov/. This site also has some great information about current scams happening.
  • If cash was sent through the mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at (877)876-2455 to see if the package can be intercepted. Let them know you are a victim of a scam and give the details. You can also complete a report at Report – United States Postal Inspection Service (uspis.gov) . Another great resource is the USP Inspection Service Victim Help Resources located at https://www.uspis.gov/report/victim-help-resources