SCAMS and Info The following information on scams was taken directly from the FTC (www.ftc.gov). See their website for more information. SCAMS and Info addressed on this page: 1. IRS Calls 2. Computer Virus/Tech Support Calls 3. Phishing (fake e-mails/texts/calls) 4. Social Security Scams 5. Phony online car sales 6. Gift Card Scams targeting worshipers 7. Charity Scams 8. Imposter Scams 9. Grandkid Scams 10. Online Dating Scams 11. “You’ve Won” Scams 12. Home Repair Scams 13. Health Care Scams 14. Money Mule Scams 15. Work at Home Scams 16. Job Scams 17. Money Wiring Scams 18. Unwanted Calls 19. Scams Against Immigrants 20. Identity Theft 21. Recovering from Identity Theft 22. Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes 23. Placing a Fraud Alert 24. Equifax Data Breach: Beware of Fake Settlement Websites Those (not really) IRS calls (IRS Imposter Scam) Here’s how they work: You get a call from someone who says she’s from the IRS. She says that you owe back taxes. She threatens to sue you, arrest or deport you, or revoke your license if you don’t pay right away. She tells you to put money on a prepaid debit card and give her the card numbers. The caller may know some of your Social Security number. And your caller ID might show a Washington, DC area code. But is it really the IRS calling? No. The real IRS won’t ask you to pay with prepaid debit cards or wire transfers. They also won’t ask for a credit card over the phone. And when the IRS first contacts you about unpaid taxes, they do it by mail, not by phone. And caller IDs can be faked. Here’s what you can do: 1. Stop. Don’t wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card. Once you send it, the money is gone. If you have tax questions, go to irs.gov or call the IRS at 800-829-1040. 2. Pass this information on to a friend. You may not have gotten one of these calls, but the chances are you know someone who has. Please Report Scams If you spot a scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission. • Call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or TTY 1-866-653-4261 • Go online: ftc.gov/complaint Your complaint can help protect other people. By filing a complaint, you can help the FTC’s investigators identify the imposters and stop them before they can get someone’s hard-earned money. It really makes a difference. Keep tech support strangers out of your computer If you need tech help with your computer, where do you go? Most of us probably search online. But your online search can lead you straight to scammers who scare you into thinking your computer is in dire need of repair...and then sell you costly security software that you don't need. Or you get a pop-up or other urgent message from someone saying your computer is infected. It might seem like the message comes from a well-known company like Microsoft or Apple, or maybe your internet service provider. It tells you there are viruses or other malware on your computer. It says you have to call a number or risk losing your personal data. But is this threat – or their problem – real? Judging by reports to the Federal Trade Commission, no they are not real. These are scammers who want to sell you useless services, steal your credit card number, or get access to your computer to install malware, which could then let them see everything on your computer. Here’s what you can do: 1. Stop. Don’t call a phone number or click a link. Don’t send money, give your credit card number, or give control of your computer to anyone who contacts you. 2. Pass this information on to a friend. You might know these pop-ups are fake, but chances are you know someone who doesn’t. If you’re looking for tech support, go to a company you know and trust, or get help from a knowledgeable friend or family member. If you search online for help, search on the company name plus “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” If you get a phone call you didn’t expect from someone who says there’s a problem with your computer, hang up. Never give control of your computer or your credit card information to someone who calls you out of the blue. Also do not write them checks or get them gift cards as payment. Never call a number in a pop-up that warns you of computer problems. Real security warnings will never ask you to call a phone number. If you think there’s a problem with your computer, update its security software and run a scan. If you spot a tech support scam, tell the FTC: www.ftc.gov/complaint. And learn more at www.ftc.gov/techsupportscams. Phishing: Don’t take the bait Phishing is when someone uses fake emails or texts – even phone calls – to get you to share valuable personal information, like account numbers, Social Security numbers, or your login IDs and passwords. Scammers use this information to steal your money, your identity, or both. They may also try to get access to your computer or network. If you click on a link in one of these emails or texts, they can install ransomware or other programs that lock you out of your data and let them steal your personal information. Scammers often use familiar company names or pretend to be someone you know. They pressure you to act now – or something bad will happen. The FTC’s new infographic, developed with the American Bankers Association Foundation, offers tips to help you recognize the bait, avoid the hook, and report phishing scams. Please share this information with your school or family, friends and co-workers. Want to avoid the latest rip-offs? Sign up for free consumer alerts from the FTC at ftc.gov/subscribe. Social Security Scams Earlier this month, we told you about a growing scam: people pretend to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and try to get your Social Security number or your money. That scam is now growing exponentially. To compare: in 2017, we heard from 3,200 people about SSA imposter scams, and those people reported losing nearly $210,000. So far THIS year: more than 35,000 people have reported the scam, and they tell us they’ve lost $10 million. Scammers are saying your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. Sometimes, the scammer wants you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. Sometimes, he’ll say your bank account is about to be seized – but he’ll tell you what to do to keep it safe. (Often, that involves putting your money on gift cards and giving him the codes – which, of course, means that your money is gone.) Oh, and your caller ID often shows the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) when these scammers call – but they’re faking that number. It’s not the real SSA calling. Here's what to know: Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. You don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized. SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer. Every time. The real SSA number is 1-800-772-1213, but scammers are putting that number in the caller ID. If you’re worried about what the caller says, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213 to speak to the real SSA. Even if the wait time is long, confirm with the real SSA before responding to one of these calls. Never give any part of your Social Security number to anyone who contacts you. Or your bank account or credit card number. If you get a robocall, DO NOT PRESS 1. Instead just hang up and remember: Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. The real Social Security Administration will never call to threaten your benefits. The real SSA will never tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on a gift card. If you get one of these calls, tell the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. Put the brakes on phony online car sales You can buy practically anything online, including used cars. But before you shell out any hard-earned cash, here’s a warning about scammers trying to sell cars they don’t have or own. Here’s how the scam works: Criminals post ads on online auction and sales websites, like eBay Motors, for inexpensive used cars (that they don’t really own). They offer to chat online, share photos, and answer questions. They may even tell you the sale will go through a well-known retailer’s buyer protection program. Recently, sellers have been sending fake invoices that appear to come from eBay Motors and demanding payment in eBay gift cards. If you call the number on the invoice, the scammer pretends to work for eBay Motors. Trusting buyers have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past year alone.