Scams

Scammer takes advantage of people looking for romantic partners/companionship through dating websites or social media.

After meeting someone online, and after just a few contacts, they profess strong feelings for you and ask to chat with you privately through telephone/email/text.

After gaining your trust (can be weeks/months/year), they tell you a false story and ask for money, gifts, or your bank account/credit card details.

They do not keep their promises and always have an excuse for why they cannot travel to meet you and why they always need more money.

Also known as Grandparent Scams

The scammer contacts someone, typically by phone, claiming to be a family member, usually a grandchild, and state that they are in immediate financial need. 

Scammer calls the victim posing as a family member (most of the time as a grandchild) in distress or someone claiming to represent the family member (such as a lawyer or law enforcement agent).

The family member of the grandparent states they are in trouble and needs their grandparent to wire them funds that will be used for bail money, lawyer’s fees, hospital bills, or another false expense.

Scammers claim to work for a charitable organization and tell the victims they won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes, which they can collect after paying "fees/taxes". 

You may have received a letter, email, phone call, or text message saying you have won a prize in a lottery that you did not enter.

Then, to claim your prize, you will be asked to pay a fee and taxes.

Scammers may claim to be from the Publishers Clearing House.

Scammers act as a technology support representative and offer to fix non-existent computer issues.

The scammer gains remote access to a victim's computer or phone and their personal information. 

A pop-up or blue screen appears on your computer, phone, or iPad/tablet with a warning sign that a virus has infected your device.

The message urges you to call a toll free number or click a link immediately to get technical help.

You will get a response from someone who claims to be working for a brand-name tech company, such as Apple/Google/Microsoft.

They will ask you to pay for tech support through gift cards or wire transfers. 

Use of emails and websites that falsely represent or claim to be associated w/ legitimate banks, financial institutions, or companies.

The scammers manipulate Internet users to disclose personal and financial data. 

Scammers send out fake emails or set up fake websites in an effort to steal your personal information.

Fraudsters always stay current with the news.

Lately, many of these phishing attempts use keywords such as “coronavirus,” “COVID-19” and “stimulus.”