Learn about fraud

Text message scam

The promise of free gifts that are claimed by providing personal info via text are trouble. Your info is then sold to identity thieves or hackers, leading to unauthorized charges or use of your identity.

Contest scam

You may be told that you've won a prize for a contest or lottery you don’t remember entering, and then asked to provide personal info, send money, or attend a meeting in order to collect the prize. Remember, a legitimate prize won't ever require you to pay in order to receive it.

Advance fee scam

When you leave a deposit in anticipation of receiving a loan, an investment, or a gift of greater value, there's a chance you may receive little or nothing in return. Always vet the recipients carefully.

Overpayment scam

Beware of those who try to overpay for an item with a check or credit card and then request a refund for the overpaid amount. Their check will bounce or the card they're using may be stolen.

Pyramid scam

If your payout in any venture is contingent upon recruiting new participants, you may be getting involved in a pyramid scheme. The promise of a large profit in a short time is a big red flag.

Employment scam

Never pay for an employment opportunity that guarantees a profit. If you must send payment for supplies or computers first, it isn’t a legitimate job opportunity.

Too good to be true scam

Free products, items that are substantially below market price, get rich quick schemes, and anything that just seems to be too good to be true, more than likely, is.

Tech support scam

Some people claim to be technical support affiliated with a reputable company. They warn that your computer may have a virus or other vulnerability. To resolve this issue, they try to access your computer remotely and request payment for unnecessary services.

Fake debt scam

Some fraudsters will represent themselves as a debt collector or court official and propose that you pay debt you don't actually owe to avoid “trouble”. Any communication about a case of this magnitude would come through certified mail.

Phishing scam

Mail, text, phone calls, and/or copycat websites used to disguise oneself as a legitimate business are all phishing. Their goal is to get access to your personal info.

Government impersonation scam

Pretending to represent a government agency and calling or sending an email requesting personal info or a payment is a serious offense. Make sure to report it.

IRS/Social Security imposter scam

Be wary of inquiries claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or Social Security Administration (SSA). They may claim there's a problem with your account or that you owe money. In order to resolve this issue, they'll ask you to provide personal info and/or send payment.

Report IRS phishing to phishing@irs.gov

Customer service impersonation

Pretending to represent customer service and requesting that you share personal info such as your password or 2-factor authentication code, send money as a “test” transaction, or download software is never legitimate.

Charity scam

Whether donating online or by phone, always verify the legitimacy of the organization. Someone claiming to be associated with a well-known fundraising effort (e.g., disaster relief) may be trying to scam you.

Family emergency scam

Watch out for someone who poses as a relative or friend asking for funds to help with an emergency—generally with a sense of urgency. Try to take a step back before moving forward in a situation like this.

Romance scam

Fake profiles on dating apps or social media that strike up a romantic interest may be trying to gain your confidence and trust. They then make up a story and ask for money. Don’t mistake that for the real thing.

Theft of cryptocurrency funds

Secure your digital wallets to keep others from gaining access and stealing your crypto. Use wallets or generate keys only with trusted providers. If available, enable multi-factor authentication. When transferring crypto, double-check that the address you see on screen matches what you entered.

Employee impersonation scam

Scammers may contact you and pretend to be a customer support rep or offer free give-aways to persuade you to share account control or info. Don’t be fooled. Instead, contact the company through the phone number or form provided in their website.

Blackmail and extortion scams

Be wary of scammers who threaten to abuse your personal info and demand payment in crypto. These attacks are rarely personal or targeted, so the threats are usually fake.

Ponzi schemes

Carefully consider any crypto investment that seems too good to be true. Promises of high returns and minimal risk can mean you’re being misled. Beware of complex investment strategies and unlicensed advisors.

Pump and dump scams

Beware of fake recommendations for hyped crypto. Scammers will buy crypto and try to get you to buy it, too. Their plan is to artificially “pump up” the price so they can sell it before the price inevitably falls.

Fraudulent Initial Coin Offerings (ICO)

Before you invest in an ICO, research the project and team thoroughly. If you do decide to invest, keep an eye on the token sale. The project or company should be transparent about the progress of its ICO and share info about its investors and contributions.

Double your money scam

Be cautious if someone offers to multiply your cryptocurrency holdings after you’ve sent them funds. Chances are they’ll keep your money and not return your initial crypto payment.

Advanced fees scam

Be suspicious of requests to use crypto to pay taxes or a fee before you receive a prize, award, or more crypto. Crypto transfers are irreversible, so you won’t get your money back if it turns out that the request was fake.

Fake websites and typosquatting

Don’t click through email or ad links because scammers use fake websites and apps to lure people to log in so they can steal their credentials. They’ll use colors or styles that are similar to authentic sites and apps, and often, the site address is similar, but misspelled.

Cryptojacking scam

Hackers will try to hijack the processing power of your device so they can illicitly mine crypto. They can gain access if you click on infected links, ads, or attachments. Run anti-virus scans and ad blockers. Monitor processing power consumption with a browser extension or software.