Because you might be planning for retirement, several investment scams have targeted individuals looking to safeguard their cash. From pyramid schemes, like the one that made Bernie Madoff infamous, to stories of a Nigerian prince looking for a partner to claim inheritance money, investment schemes have long been a successful way to take advantage of...
Scammers like to take advantage of people who own their homes. Unfortunately, this valuable asset increases the potential dollar value of specific scams. Scammers send personalized letters to different properties, apparently on behalf of the County Assessor’s Office. The letter, made to look official but displaying only public information, identifies the property’s assessed value and...
Sometimes your might receive emails warning that your sensitive personal information is being sold in the shadowy marketplaces of the dark web. Some emails list the stolen information, like all or part of the person’s Social Security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number. If you receive one of these emails, take steps to...
This simple scam is one with which most credit unions are familiar. In this one, scammers inform a member that they have won a lottery or sweepstakes. However, they must make a payment to cover the taxes before they can collect the winnings. To lend credibility to the scam, people will often be sent a...
Scammers often pose as support or service representatives, offering to resolve issues related to a compromised email, a virus on your computer, or even a software license renewal. These scams usually start with a phone call or a pop-up warning of a computer problem that gives a number to call. The scammers often claim to...
There is a surge of “smash-and-grab” thefts from parking lots at retail stores, event centers, parking ramps, sports fields, wedding venues, and more. Perpetrators smash your window and grab your purse, wallet, or phone. The thief will use the stolen items (checks, ID, credit card, debit card) to access your financial information. This can lead...
You might have just graduated from college, but there’s still more to learn when you’re on the job hunt. Not every posting or job recruiter is legit. Learn how to spot the scams. We’ve been getting reports about a scam that starts out with a job recruiter reaching out to ask for your resume. Sounds...
Like spring cleaning for your finances, Financial Literacy Month is a great time to dust off your knowledge for spotting and avoiding scams. The best way to make a clean getaway from a scam? Listen to how they tell you to pay. If someone tells you: “Pay us by putting money on a gift card and then...
A romance scam is when a new love interest says they love you, but they love your money–and may not be who they say they are. Be on the lookout for these warning signs of a romance scam: A new love who lives far away asks you to wire them money or share your credit...
Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one for you: Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Then help others spot and avoid them, too. Scammers want you to pay with gift cards because they’re like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is...
