Avoiding Scams

Criminals are always coming up with new ways to trick people into giving away money or personal information. Scams may come through phone calls, emails, text messages, social media, or even the mail. These schemes often:

• Promise prizes, money, or gifts in exchange for fees or personal details
• Pressure you to act quickly
• Pretend to be a government agency, bank, or company you know
• Ask you to pay with wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency

How to Protect Yourself

• Verify before you trust: Do not click links, open attachments, or give out personal information unless you are sure who you are dealing with.
• Slow down: Scammers rely on urgency. Take time to confirm requests are legitimate.
• Use safe payment methods: Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency for unexpected requests.
• Monitor your accounts: Review bank and credit card activity regularly for unauthorized transactions.
• Protect your sign-in: Your bank will not call or text asking for your password, PIN, or one-time access code. Do not share these with anyone who contacts you.

Common Scams

• Wire transfer scams: Scammers may pressure you to wire money, claiming it is to protect your account or resolve an urgent problem. Wire transfers are fast, direct, and usually irreversible, which is why scammers prefer them.
• Digital payment app scams: Fraudsters may instruct you to send money using Zelle®, CashApp®, or Venmo®. Sending money this way is like sending cash — once it is gone, you likely cannot get it back. Be cautious if anyone you don’t know asks you to use a payment app.
• Bank imposter scams: Someone pretends to be from your bank and may spoof caller ID. They try to get you to reveal your password, PIN, or one-time access code, or to “reverse a transfer.” Hang up, then contact your bank using a known phone number.
• Phishing (email, text, phone): Messages or calls designed to steal personal or financial information or to get you to click malicious links. Report suspicious bank-related messages to your bank’s phishing address and delete them.
• Fake check and overpayment scams: You are sent a check and told to deposit it and send money back before the bank discovers the check is counterfeit. Once it bounces, you are responsible for the loss.
• Social media scams: Offers of fast cash, requests to send or receive money, or “get paid to move funds” schemes that can make you a co-conspirator.
• Investment and cryptocurrency scams: Promises of guaranteed returns, pressure to move money quickly, or instructions to pay via crypto or prepaid/gift cards. These payments are hard to recover.
• Tech support and government imposters: Unsolicited “support” claiming your device is infected or threats from someone posing as a government agency demanding immediate payment.
• Scams targeting older adults: Common angles include tech support, “refund,” and lottery scams, often using urgency and trust to get victims to pay.

Learn More

New scams appear every day. For the latest information on scams and tips to stay safe, visit:

• How to Avoid a Scam – Federal Trade Commission
• Common Frauds and Scams – FBI

What to Do if You Were Scammed

If you think you have been scammed:

1. Stop all contact with the scammer immediately.
2. Report the scam to us right away so we can help protect your accounts.
3. Update your security by changing passwords and monitoring your accounts for unusual activity.
4. Report the scam to authorities: File a report with the FTC and, if money was sent online, submit a complaint to IC3.gov.

For more guidance, visit:
What To Do if You Were Scammed – FTC

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