Security

Common COVID Scams

Criminals can take advantage of the fear and uncertainty around COVID-19. They can attempt to take money and steal information. Do not respond directly or click on links in messages you receive via text, phone call or email; especially from an unknown or untrusted source and particularly those involving:

CDC Impersonators: These can come as fake phone calls, emails, social media posts, or web sites.

Phishing Attacks: The most common are regarding: Fake cures, treatments, and testing kits; and refunds or cancelations from airlines and shipping companies.

Visit the following FTC link for further details: https://www.ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams-consumer-advice

Fraudulent Notification Regarding Your Account

You get an email, phone call or text message informing you that fraud has been detected on your account. This communication may even appear to come from your own financial institution. You are asked to provide information, usually a credit card number or log in credentials, to resolve the supposed fraud or to prevent the account from being closed.

Impersonation of Family or Friend

Generally done by phone, the fraudster takes advantage of your desire to be helpful. In a common version, you receive a call telling you that your grandchild needs money, sometimes with further explanation that they have been in an accident or arrested. The fraudster asks you to wire or send money through Western Union, further advising "Don't tell Mom and Dad", so the grandchild won't get in trouble.

Impersonation of Law Enforcement or Government Agency

Generally done by phone call, the scammer will call you pretending to be from a government agency such as the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or even Medicare. They will often threaten that something bad will happen if you do not provide your personal information or provide what they are requesting. Your caller ID may even say the call is from the government, but caller ID can be faked. A scammer may also impersonate law enforcement, such as FBI, threatening that you may be arrested if you do not provide personal information or do not send them money. No government agency or law enforcement official will ever ask you for your personal information over the phone or request that you send them money! Visit the following FTC link for further details: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonator-scam

Phony Virus Warning or “Scareware”

You see a pop-up message on your computer that tells you your computer has a virus. The message may look similar to legitimate anti-virus software messages. In some case, the fraudster is trying to sell you bogus security software that does little or nothing. In other cases, this fraud may involve illegitimately capturing credit card information, or installing malicious software such as a keystroke logging program. If you click to accept a download, you have likely allowed the installation of malicious software and given control of your computer to the fraudster.

Business Impersonation Scam

The scammer will contact their victims via phone call, email, or text and pose as someone from an often-well-known business such as Amazon or Norton Anti-Virus. The scammer will generally state that something is wrong with your account or that a charge has been made for something you didn’t purchase. They will request that you contact them immediately to rectify the issue and at that point they may also request access to your device to process a refund. Once they gain access to your device, they ask you to login to your online banking which in the process of doing so they are stealing your login credentials/gaining access to your accounts and account information. Visit the following FTC link for further details: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-tech-support-scams

Employment Scam

Scammers advertise jobs the same way legitimate employers do — online (in ads, on job sites, and social media). They promise you a job, but what they want is your money and your personal information. They will often send you a check and ask you to purchase equipment or material for the job. They may also ask you to purchase gift cards with the funds. No legitimate potential employer will ever send you a check and then tell you to send on part of the money or buy gift cards with it. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check. Visit the following FTC link for further details: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams

Fake Check/Overpayment Scam

A scammer will contact their victim via an online sales ad, such as an ad on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, asking to purchase the item. The scammer will send their victim a check in an amount that is more than the agreed upon purchase price and ask the victim to send the overage back to them immediately. The check gets returned and the victim is left to cover the loss. Visit the following FTC link for further details: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/fake-check-scams

Romance Scam

Scammers will contact their victims through fake profiles on dating sites and apps, or through popular social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, or Google Hangouts. They will then strike up a relationship with their victims to build trust, often talking or chatting several times a day. Then, the scammer will make up a story and ask for their victim to send them money. Often times the scammer will continue to manipulate their victim for months at a time before asking for money. Visit the following FTC link for further details: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-you-need-know-about-romance-scams

Lottery Winnings Scam

Generally initiated via email or postal mail, a letter is sent by the scammer stating that you have won a lottery. Within the letter, there’s often instructions asking you to send funds and/or your bank account information, to pay for processing fees, taxes, and other miscellaneous fees in order to receive your winnings. No legitimate lottery will ever require payment or bank account information to receive your winnings. Visit the follow FTC site for further details: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/fake-prize-sweepstakes-and-lottery-scams