Fraud Education

The ‘Urgent’ Payment Request

Scam: Someone contacts you pressing you for a payment. And don’t tell anyone they are talking to you about it either. You need to send it to them quickly to fix your computer, or get those back taxes paid. The scammers are trying to keep you isolated to make you not think about what you are doing, just get it done quickly so they have your money and you will never see it again.

Fake Internet Sales

Scam: The fraudster agrees to buy your item you are selling. They send you a check, the check is for more than the agreed upon sales amount. They then want you to buy gift cards with the extra and send it back to them, or send the extra funds back to them as a cashier’s check. Doing either one of these will leave you holding the bag when the original check the fraudster sends you comes back as a counterfeit!

Romance Scam

Scam: You make a connection online, either through an app or a random email in your inbox. You start chatting and you really hit it off with the person on the other end. Then something happens, a traumatic life event or some other financial situation. They ask you for money to help them. Think twice! It may feel real, but it never is. They are just saying whatever they can to make you feel special, to keep the connection going so you can ‘help them out’. In reality, they are stealing your money.

Lottery Winnings or Fake Prizes

Scam: You have won the lottery. Wire some money to us so we can send you your lottery winnings! Or how about you won the Wheel of Fortune prizes (that you do not remember playing). Send us gift cards so we can deliver your prizes. Both of these scams trip people up, thinking you are getting something for not doing anything. No one is going to give you money for nothing, if the offer is too good to be true, it is not true!

Or Fake Internet Buying of Vehicles

Scam: You are trying to buy a vehicle online, the fraudster wants you to wire the money to them right away, then they will ship it to you. Be very careful here!! People do buy vehicles out of state all of the time, but do your due diligence! Does the deal make sense? Or they selling it cheaper than they should? Can they produce a title to verify they owe it? Be very careful as we have had several members fall victim to this, thinking they were getting a good deal, but in the end they wired money away and never received the promised vehicle in return.

Phishing

Scam: The random text message, or phone call. You are past due (on something) or your account has been compromised, this is our fraud department calling you. The fraudsters want to help you, give them your debit card number, or other personal information so they can clear the problem or pay the bill for you. Never give your personal information out over the phone to someone you just met!