Fraud Awareness

Know the Signs and Protect Yourself

Financial fraud can have a serious impact on your finances and personal well-being. Fraud occurs when someone steals or wrongfully obtains money or property from another person. Taking a few basic precautions can help you recognize suspicious activity and reduce your risk of becoming a victim.

Common Fraud Scams

Fraudsters use many different tactics to convince people to send money or share sensitive information. Knowing what to look for can help you spot a scam before it’s too late.

Fake Check Scams

In a fake check scam, someone sends you a check and asks you to deposit it. They then instruct you to send some or all of the money back to them or another person. Although the funds may initially appear in your account, the check is later determined to be fraudulent, leaving you responsible for the money you withdrew.

Romance Scams

Romance scammers often create fake profiles on dating apps, websites or social media. They build relationships and establish trust over time before claiming they are experiencing an emergency or other financial hardship and asking for money.

Be cautious if someone you have only met online begins asking for financial assistance, especially if you have never met them in person.

Family Emergency Scams

In a family emergency scam, you may receive an unexpected call from someone pretending to be a relative or friend who urgently needs money. They may claim they need help paying a hospital bill, getting out of jail or dealing with another emergency.

Scammers often pressure victims to act immediately and may ask them not to tell other family members. Before sending money, independently contact your loved one or another trusted family member to verify the situation.

Rental Scams

Rental scams often involve advertisements for apartments or vacation properties offered at unusually low prices. A scammer may ask you to send money for an application fee, security deposit or first month’s rent before you have seen the property.

After payment is made, victims may discover that the property does not exist, is not actually available for rent or that the scammer copied someone else’s legitimate listing.

Tips to Protect Yourself from Fraud 

Fraudsters often rely on urgency and pressure to convince people to act before they have time to think. Taking a moment to verify a request can make a significant difference.

• Verify who is contacting you by calling back using a phone number you know is legitimate.
• Talk with a trusted family member or friend before responding to an unexpected financial request.
• Never provide your Social Security number, account information or other sensitive financial information over the phone unless you initiated the call and trust the recipient.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels suspicious or sounds too good to be true, take time to investigate.
• Never send money to someone who claims you must pay in order to receive a prize.
• Be cautious when someone pressures you to send money immediately.
• Never send cash through the mail.