SURPISED BY A CONTACT ABOUT A PROBLEM OR PRIZE?

Scammers use a lot of different methods to try to obtain your money or your information. Two common ways are to surprise you with either a problem or a prize. It is important to not act immediately in these instances and spend some time thinking about the situation.

Let’s start with “problems.”  Scammers often try to get you to act by alerting you to a “problem” and the need to fix it. They might say you have a virus on your computer, are in trouble with a government agency (e.g., the IRS), owe someone money, or are locked out of one of your accounts. Be vigilant about these types of communications and resist requests for your personal information or payment. Check who the message is really from and look for other signs it is a fake or imposter.

Another common scam is to suggest you won money or another prize via a lottery or sweepstakes, and request you pay a fee in order to obtain that prize. Think about whether or not you remember entering any such contests and realize you typically would not be asked to pay a fee when winning a drawing or similar event. Sounds too good to be true? It likely is.

Click Learn More below for more helpful information from the Federal Trade Commission on recognizing and avoiding financial scams.