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ATM Fraud

Examine the car reader for signs of tampering.

  • Try jiggling the card reader to see if it’s loose and look for signs of glue around reader to spot a skimmer.
  • If the keypad feels “off” or the buttons are unusually spongy or uneven, the keypad may be fake. Sometimes, thieves will put a fake key pad over the real pad to capture your PIN number.
  • There is tape sticking out from under the reader.
  • The reader is skewed or hanging off to the side.
  • A loose piece of plastic, or wires sticking out from the reader.

Home Repair Scams

Here’s how they work:

Someone knocks on your door or calls you. They say they can fix your leaky roof, install new windows, or provide the latest energy-efficient solar panels. They might find you after a flood, windstorm or other natural disaster. They pressure you to act quickly, might ask you to pay in cash, or offer to get
you financing.

But here’s what happens next: they run off with your money and never make the repairs. Or they do shoddy repairs that make things worse. Maybe they even put you in a bad financing agreement that puts your house at risk.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Stop. Check it out. Before making home repairs, ask for references, licenses and insurance. Get three written estimates. Don’t start work until you have a signed contract. And don’t pay by cash or wire transfer.

2. Pass this information on to a friend. You may see through these scams. But chances are you know someone who could use a friendly reminder.

“You’ve Won” Scams

Here’s how they work:

You get a card, a call, or an email telling you that you won! Maybe it’s a trip or a prize, a lottery or a sweepstakes. The person calling is so excited and can’t wait for you to get your winnings.

But here’s what happens next: they tell you there’s a fee, some taxes, or customs duties to pay. And then they ask for your credit card number or bank account information, or they ask you to wire money.

Either way, you lose money instead of winning it. You don’t ever get that big prize. Instead, you get more requests for money, and more promises that you won big.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Keep your money – and your information – to yourself. Never share your financial information with someone who contacts you and claims to need it. And never wire money to anyone who asks you to.

2. Pass this information on to a friend. You probably throw away these kinds of scams or hang up when you get these calls. But you probably know someone who could use a friendly reminder.

Healthcare Scams

Here’s how they work:

You see an ad on TV telling you about a new law that requires you to get a new health care card. Maybe you get a call offering you big discounts on health insurance. Or maybe someone says they’re from the government, and she needs your Medicare number to issue you a new card.

Scammers follow the headlines. When it’s Medicare open season, or when health care is in the news, they go to work with a new script. Their goal? To get your Social Security number, financial information, or insurance number. So take a minute to think before you talk: Do you really have to get a new health care card? ls that discounted insurance a good deal? ls that “government official” really from the government? The answer to all three is almost always: No.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Stop. Check it out. Before you share your information, call Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE), do some research, and check with someone you trust. What’s the real story?

2. Pass this information on to a friend. You probably saw through the requests. But chances are you know someone who could use a friendly reminder.

Charity Fraud

Here’s how it works:

Someone contacts you asking for a donation to their charity. lt sounds like a group you’ve heard of it seems real, and you want to help.

How can you tell what charity is legitimate and what’s a scam? Scammers want your money quickly. Charity scammers often pressure you to donate right away. They might ask for cash, and might even offer to send a courier or ask you to wire money. Scammers often refuse to send you information about the charity, give you details, or tell you how the money will be used. They might even thank you for a pledge you don’t remember making.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Take your time. Tell callers to send you information by mail. For requests you get in the mail, do your research. ls it a real group? What percentage ofyour donation goes to the charity? ls your donation taxdeductible? How do they want you to pay? Rule out anyone who asks you to send cash or wire money. Chances are, that’s a scam.

2. Pass this information on to a friend. lt’s likely that nearly everyone you know gets charity solicitations. This information could help someone else spot a possible scam.

Pig Butchering Scam

Here’s how it works:

The pig butchering scam is a type of fraud in which criminals lure victims into digital relationships to build trust before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency platforms. Unbeknownst to victims, the fraudsters control the platforms and will eventually take all the money and vanish.(Pig butchering—a scam named after the practice of farmers fattening hogs before slaughter) Pig butchering scams are long-term con jobs that combine elements of romance scams, investment schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Break off all contact with the scammer. Effective immediately, stop all communications across text, social media, apps, and email. Don’t send any explanation or say goodbye, as you don’t want to arouse their suspicions.

2. Block and report their account. It’s common for gangs to use multiple digital “friends” of the host to add credibility to the long-term scheme. Make sure to report every profile that might be part of the scam.

3. Change all your passwords and login credentials. If you share any account numbers or access codes for your cryptocurrency accounts or online platforms, you’ll need to create new, complex passwords that aren’t easy to hack.

4. File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). It helps to include specific details and any supporting documents — like screenshots of email, text, and WhatsApp conversations.

5. File a police report. You can inform your local law enforcement office with full details of the fraud and ask them to contact the crypto exchange.

6. Monitor your online and financial accounts for signs of fraud. Keep a close eye on all your credit reports, bank accounts, and credit card statements to spot any unfamiliar transactions.

Identity Theft

Here’s how it works:

Someone gets your personal information and runs up bills in your name. They might use your Social Security or Medicare number, your credit card, or your medical insurance – along with your good name. How would you know? You could get bills for things you didn’t buy or services you didn’t get. Your bank account might have withdrawals you didn’t make. You might not get bills you expect. Or, you could check your credit report and find accounts you never knew about.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Protect your information. Put yourself in another person’s shoes. Where would they find your credit card or Social Security number? Protect your personal information by shredding documents before you throw them out, by giving your Social Security number only when you must, and by using strong passwords online.

2. Read your monthly statements and check your credit. When you get your account statements and explanations of benefits, read them for accuracy. You should recognize what’s there. Once a year, get your credit report for free from AnnualcreditReport.com or 1-877-322-822 8. The law entitles you to one free report each year from each credit reporting company. lf you see something you don’t recognize, you will be able to deal with it.

Imposter Scams

Here’s how they work:

You get a call or an email. lt might say you’ve won a prize. lt might seem to come from a government official. Maybe it seems to be from someone you know – your grandchild, a relative or a friend. Or maybe it’s from someone you feel like you know, but you haven’t met in person – say, a person you
met online who you’ve been writing to.

Whatever the story, the request is the same: wire money to pay taxes or fees, or to help someone you care about.

But is the person who you think it is? ls there an emergency or a prize? Judging by the complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the answer is no. The person calling you is pretending to be someone else.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Stop. Check it out – before you wire money to anyone. Call the person, the government agency, or someone else you trust. Get the real story. Then decide what to do. No government agency will ever ask you to wire money.

2. Pass this information on to a friend. You may not have gotten one of these calls or emails, but the chances are you know someone who has.