As unfortunate as it is, scammers are getting much more sophisticated in the ways they con you out of money. Though many of us are used to getting a fraudulent phone call or two, criminals are not only sounding more legitimate over the phone but also finding new ways to scam us out of money. Therefore, it's essential to know some of the tactics that scammers are using, so you can protect yourself and your bank account!
Here are a few things to
look out for so you can stay one step ahead of scammers and financial fraud:
●
Organizations. To try to
gain your trust, scammers will frequently call claiming they are from a
legitimate organization, such as your bank, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Social Security, or another government organization. They will probably tell
you that you owe money to them immediately, and if you don't pay, legal action
will be taken. Any message sent like this over the phone, email, or text is
called a phishing scam. Even if it sounds and looks legitimate, remember that
an organization will NEVER call you or email you asking for a form of payment.
Official organizations will likely send you a letter with detailed steps on
payment. If you receive a phone call, hang up the phone immediately and call
the organization directly if you're unsure.
●
One Form of Payment. Scammers often only offer one form of payment, which may
already tip you off. But to take it even further, these forms of payments are
usually pretty sketchy sounding: it could be through a money transfer company,
putting money on gift cards, or they'll ask you to set up a PayPal account.
Some scammers will send you a fake check and ask you to deposit it, then ask
you to send them the money. Make sure that any form of payment seems secure,
safe, and official.
●
Fake Invoice and Suspicious Emails. In many cases, scammers will send you a fake invoice or
suspicious-looking email asking you to pay money to an official organization. Just like phone calls, remember that
organizations will never reach out to you over email for payment! Always check
the sender's email address to see how legitimate it looks, and if you're
unsure, a simple call to the organization will verify your suspicion.
●
Prize. Don't
trust any email or call that says you've won some sort of prize money. Scammers
will ask you to verify personal and confidential information for you to receive
your prize money and then use it to access your bank account.
● Act Immediately. Scammers will pressure you to act immediately, so you don't have time to think or consider whether or not it's a scam. Even if they tell you they'll take away your business, driver's license, passport, or social security, don't fall for it! These are improbable consequences, which you certainly won't be informed of over the phone to take care of quickly.
McHenry Savings Bank is here to safely manage and take care of your personal
and commercial finances. We know how important the security of your money is,
and we work hard to earn your trust with reliable services such as ATM and
Debit Cards, Checks, Direct Deposit, Mobile/Online Banking, and much more. Open
an account today! Visit our
website to learn more or find a location near you.
Sources:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-stay-a-step-ahead-of-financial-scammers-n3h9jtxhp
