The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has identified four reasons to suspect a scam. Get to know these four signs and make sure your loved ones are also aware of what to look out for.
Sign #1: Pretending to be from a trusted organization.
Scammers will often pretend that they are contacting you on behalf of the government or a business/organization you know. The Social Security Administration, IRS, Medicare, utility companies, and even charities are often used as a cover, because scammers know you are more like to trust these types of organizations.
Sign #2: There’s a problem or a prize.
Someone who is contacting you in attempt to steal money, information, etc. may say that you owe money or that a person in your family had an emergency. Stating that there is a problem with one of your accounts and information needs to be verified is a method savvy scammers use to catch you off guard and try to get your information.
Sign #3: Immediate pressure to act.
A scammer has no interest in giving you time to do research and realize that they are trying to pull one over on you. They want you to act right away. You may be threatened with arrest, a lawsuit, license removal, or similar in an attempt to get you to panic.
Sign #4: You need to pay in a very specific way.
Scammers will often say that you need to pay for something by sending money via a money transfer company or putting money on a gift card and providing them with the number on the back. Others will send you a fake check and tell you to deposit it and send them money.
Ways to Avoid a Scam
Block unwanted calls and text messages can help you prevent scammers from contacting you. Never provide any personal or financial details in response to an unexpected request. A legitimate organization won’t call, email, or text to ask for personal information, such as your bank account or Social Security numbers. If you receive a text or email from a company that you work with and you think it’s real, you should still avoid clicking on any links. Contact them using a website you know is trustworthy, or look up their phone number. Do not call a number they provided or the number from your caller ID.
When in doubt, stop and discuss the request with someone you trust. If you think something is fishy, it probably is!
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a scam, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
