Three signs something might be a scam

There are many ways fraudsters try to get your personal information or separate you from your hard-earned money. One of the most popular schemes is through a phishing scam, in which fraudsters use links in emails or text messages to try to get you to share your valuable personal information.

With fraudsters constantly changing their tactics, it can be hard to keep track of the latest scams. But there are some common themes among the schemes. Here are three signs someone may be trying to scam you:

There’s a strong sense of urgency

Scammers may contact you acting as a representative of a government agency or company like the IRS, a utility provider or law enforcement officer. They may use a sense of urgency to get you to pay back taxes or an outstanding bill you don’t have. Fraudsters posing as a representative for a utility company may threaten to turn off your power immediately. In extreme cases, they may pretend to be a police officer claiming you have a warrant out for your arrest, and that paying a fine to them will prevent you from going to jail.

Putting people under pressure is a powerful ploy. It can feel overwhelming to be taken off guard by accusations like these. But communications and payments, especially from government agencies, are done through the mail and will not be requested over the phone. If you receive a phone call from a company you do business with requesting immediate payment, you can hang up and call the number on your billing statement to confirm if the request is legitimate.

 

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