Imposter Scams. There are many, and they are all designed to separate people from their hard earned money. Whether it be Romance, Grandparent, Charity, Investment, IRS, Tech support, etc., we all need to be aware of them and the possible effects they can have on our customers and family members. Let’s take a look:
What is an Imposter?
An imposter is a person who pretends to be someone else; maybe someone known to you, maybe someone pretending to work for the government, could be a business or company you trust, or someone who wants to have a romantic relationship with you. Imposters are dishonest people who want to steal your money and/or get your personal information.
How do Imposter Scams Work?
In an imposter scam, a dishonest person lies and tricks you into sending money to them. They might call, email, or text. Imposters might try to get you to give them money via gift cards or wire transfers. People who say you have to pay that way are always scammers! Never send money to people you don’t know or when you aren’t sure they are who they claim to be. Gift cards and wiring money are just like sending cash. If you buy a gift card and someone uses it, you cannot get your money back. Same with sending a wire. We can try to reclaim the money, but there is no guarantee the other financial institution will send it back.
How to Spot an Imposter Scam….
While most imposter scams are someone asking you to buy gift cards or wire money to someone you know, a scammer might also use different ways to convince you to send money. Some examples:
- you have a problem with your computer and you have to pay to fix it
- you owe taxes to the IRS
- you won a prize, or inherited money, but you have to pay fees first
- you won the lottery, but you have to pay some taxes first
- a friend or family member is in trouble and needs you to send money to help
- you got a check for too much money and need to send back the extra
These are all tricks, don’t fall victim!
How Do You Avoid Becoming a Victim?
Never send money to someone you don’t know. Never send money to someone who just contacted you even if you think you know them or if they say they are related to you. Do not give out personal information to anyone over the phone, and if someone is asking for information just hang up! Scammers are good at being friendly and fooling people. They are excellent at taking money that doesn’t belong to them.
If you or someone you know has been affected by these scams, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by either calling 1-877-382-4357 or go online to ftc.gov/complaint.
