Online scams can steal personal information, money or other assets. You can protect yourself by not clicking on links, opening attachments, or replying to spam texts. Use trusted antivirus software to protect yourself from malware attacks.
These scams are based on messages from people who claim to be royalty or businessmen in need of help quickly moving money out the country. These scams often create an artificial sense of urgency. If you are a victim of these scams, report them to Refundee.
Advance-fee scams
Fraudsters who use advance-fee schemes target people looking for a quick way to make money. They often claim to have won the lottery or a sweepstakes and ask victims for a fee up front to receive the prize money. They may also promise to help them invest in a business opportunity that does not exist.
These scammers can contact victims via email, social media, or phone. They may pose as government officials or financial institutions, or wealthy individuals or celebrities. They may ask for personal details and credentials in addition to the money request.
These scams can cost their victims thousands of dollars within a matter of days. These scams take advantage of the fact that many people are desperate for money. They use an urgency to get victims to send money.
Remember, if something seems too good to be real, it most likely is. It is also a smart idea to check out the website address and any other contact information before you provide any information.
Work-from-home scams
Work-from-home scams are aimed at job seekers who are looking for legitimate work. These scams are usually fake job advertisements that promise huge amounts of money if you do remote work. They also trick job seekers into providing personal information or sending money to the scammer. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that these scams cost Americans around $2 billion a year.
Some of the most common work-from-home scams include reshipping jobs, MLM job scams, envelope stuffing, and data entry job scams. They often ask job-seekers to send money up front for equipment, software or supplies. They may also ask for wire transfers, money orders, or gift cards. Once they have the money, they will never deliver the goods and perform the work. These scams are especially prevalent during the holidays when package shipping is at its peak.
Report the scam immediately if you are a victim. You can file a complaint with your local police or the FBI. These reports are not only useful in catching criminals, but they also help keep statistics on internet crime and alert other job seekers to possible scams.
Scammers are constantly coming up with new methods to steal money and identity. Staying vigilant and trusting your gut instinct can help you avoid these scams. If something feels wrong, it probably is. If you suspect a scammer, call your bank right away and consider using a digital security app to protect yourself.
Imposter scams
Fraudsters pose as government officials, financial institutions, tech support representatives, family members or even romantic interests in an attempt to trick you into surrendering money or personal information. They may contact via email, social media or phone and use a fake caller ID in order to make the communication appear legitimate.
Imposter scams can be especially dangerous, stealing large sums of money and leaving you vulnerable to identity theft. They can also threaten you with legal action if you do not act quickly. Some of the most common imposter scams include:
Grandchild in trouble
Criminals posing as a grandchild or other relative claim to be in trouble, usually in a foreign country. They ask for money by wire or MoneyGram to pay for medical care, bail money or a ticket home. This is a common scam that targets seniors.
Bank representatives
Fraudsters may pose in the role of current relationship managers, Treasury sales officers or other trusted employees. They send suspicious emails or smishes to target individuals and businesses. They use fake websites and spoofed emails to make themselves look more authentic.
Never give out any financial or personal information if you are contacted by someone who is not a friend. Use the customer service number on your invoices, statements of account and websites that are legitimate businesses and government agencies to independently verify their identity. You should also hang up on calls that don’t have a real name, and never respond to text messages or social media requests for money or personal information.
Mortgage relief scams
Mortgage relief scams prey on homeowners who are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their home loan. They falsely claim they will negotiate a loan modification with the consumer’s mortgage servicer or lender for a fee, usually hundreds or thousands of dollar paid upfront. They also may pretend to be affiliated with government programs or the federally-chartered mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Some scammers lure victims by promising to erase their debt or mortgage, claiming they have secret laws and regulations others do not know about. These claims are illegal. The perpetrators will often charge upfront fees to homeowners for services that won’t work, or worsen their situation.
Other types include frauds involving foreclosure rescue or refinance, sale/leaseback/repurchase fraud and phantom loans modifications. These scams are designed to trick homeowners into signing the deeds to their homes over to “rescuers”, who then evict the homeowner or sell the home without returning the money taken from the house. These scams violate the Federal Trade Commission rule on Mortgage Assistance Relief Services. They are also a violation of state and local foreclosure prevention laws. Consumers should also check with the Department of Housing and Urban Development before paying for any services provided by a mortgage modification or foreclosure relief company.
Spam scams
Scammers are always trying to trick people into divulging their personal information. Stay alert and use comprehensive online security solutions that protect you against all types scams. These offers, whether it’s a great vacation deal, an offer to reduce debt or a promise of cash, may seem too good-to-be true. In the US federal laws regulate email advertising and set standards for spammers to follow. If you have concerns about any emails or messages that you receive, report them to the Federal Trade Commission or your local office of the attorney general.
Phishing scams often pose as your bank or a website to which you belong and ask for personal information. These scammers then steal your information to commit identity theft or fraud.
Other common online scams include employment, mortgage relief and investment spam. Scammers may try to convince you to sign up for long-term services, such as insurance or educational programs. Typically, these scammers will use a sense of urgency to encourage you to act quickly. They also might use long email addresses composed of random letters and numbers to hide their identities. If you believe that you have been the victim of spam, contact the person or company who sent it and verify their identity.
Tornado scams
As cleanup efforts get underway following last week’s tornadoes, it’s important to stay alert to scam artists who may try to take advantage of consumers and homeowners. Fraudulent activity is known to increase following disasters. Scammers often pose as federal agencies, or other emergency personnel. Scammers will also ask for personal details to steal a victim’s identity.
In addition to these scams, people will want help those affected by a storm. It’s important to keep in mind that not all donations will be the same. If a charity sounds too good to be real, it probably is. Charity watchdogs and the Better Business Bureau are warning people to be cautious when giving.
Fake storm chasers will often promise to fix the damage to a home quickly after a natural catastrophe. This can be especially dangerous for seniors and others who live alone.
The Better Business Bureau warns of scammers who will often claim to be from FEMA, or another official disaster relief agency. They may also use social media sites to make contact with victims. It’s best to stay away from these calls or emails and only work with certified contractors. This will prevent survivors from being exploited. It’s also a good idea to spread the word about these scams so that they can be stopped.