Common Scammer Tactics

Common Ways Scammers Will Contact You:

• You receive a phone call or email telling you you’ve won the lottery or a sweepstakes.
• You receive a phone call or email that you’re getting an unexpected refund and you need to contact them right away.
• You receive a phone call, text or email from a family member asking for money or to help them urgently.
• You receive a phone call or email notifying you that your bank is under investigation and that your funds aren’t safe.
• You receive a request to open a new business along with a business checking account and that all expenses will be covered by forthcoming checks or ACH deposits.

Common Actions Scammers Will Ask You to Take: Be Wary of Depositing Checks You’re Not Expecting!

• They might ask you to deposit a check to your account, but then ask you to get a cashier’s check and provide instructions where to send it.
• They might ask you to deposit a check and then have you wire funds to another account.
• They might ask you to deposit a check and then wire funds to another account for the purposes of “investing” in cryptocurrency.
• They might ask you to deposit a check and then send cash to another financial institution.
• They might ask you to deposit a check and then purchase gift cards to send back to them.
• They might ask you to deposit a check, withdraw cash from your account, and then deposit it into a Bitcoin machine.

Scammers often prey on a person’s sympathy and willingness to help a person in need. They also often use words to inspire urgency and make you feel as if you have to take action immediately upon their request. If you’re contacted in any of the ways above, be on alert. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.