DEBIT CARD TIPS! Four Signs That It’s a Scam
1. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Security
Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds
official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility
company, a
tech company, or even a charity asking for
donations.
They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID. So the name and number you see
might not be real.
2. Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.
They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Or you owe money. Or someone in your family had an emergency. Or
that there’s a virus on your computer.
Some scammers say there’s a problem
with one of your accounts and that you need
to verify some information.
Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or
sweepstakes but have to pay
a fee to get it.
3. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.
Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone,
they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story.
They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They
might say your computer is about to be corrupted.
4. Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.
They often insist that you pay by using
cryptocurrency, by wiring
money through a company like MoneyGram or Western Union, or by putting money on a
gift card and
then giving them the number on the back.
Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), then tell you
to deposit it and send them money.