How To Recognize And Avoid Scams

By: Staci Hornberger

Scams are on the rise, and with the advancement of technology it’s easier than ever to fall into the traps scammers so expertly put in place. Scammers often use high-pressure sales pitches as well as scare tactics to trick people into revealing personal information or sending money. Recognizing common signs of a scam could help you avoid one.

According to the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice, scammers often pretend to be from an organization you know. They may pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government or may pretend to be a part of a business you know, like a bank or utility company. These scammers often use technology to change the phone number that appears on the caller ID so it may even look like a local number.

Scammers may tell you there is a problem that must be resolved quickly. They may pretend to be from a bank trying to verify your account information or say you’re in trouble with the government and need to pay some kind of overdue tax. Oftentimes, these scammers will pressure you to act immediately and even give very specific ways to pay to resolve the “problem”. They may insist you wire money, use cryptocurrency, or put money on a gift card and then give them the gift card account number.

Here are 4 ways to help you avoid falling for a scam:

1. Don’t give your personal or financial information to a request that you didn’t expect. Never share sensitive information with anyone you don’t know or trust and always verify who you are talking with. You can verify information with a company or organization using their official website or phone number to contact them directly.

2. Resist the pressure to act immediately. Don’t rush any decisions, especially if you are feeling pressured. Terms like “limited time offer” or “emergency” can scare you into making a poor decision. Take time to think things through as you may gain clarity over the request as you take time to process it all.

3. Don’t click links or attachments. If you’re unsure about a call, email, or text message; don’t open or respond to it until you verify what it is and who it is from.

4. Stop and talk to someone you trust. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam. If you encounter what you think may be a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This may help someone else from becoming a victim of the same scam.