Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations.
Scammers can use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID. So, the name and number you see might not be real.
They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Or you owe money. Or someone in your family had an emergency. Or that there’s a virus on your computer.
Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information.
Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it.
Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story.
They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted.
They often insist that you pay by sending money through a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back.
Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money.
If you were scammed or think you saw a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
ID Safe Choice is an identity theft recovery service the credit union offers. This service is an option you can add to your Adventure checking account. If you ever need to use it, a Professional Recovery Advocate acts on your behalf and does all the work necessary to recover your identity, no matter how long it takes. Knowing that a skilled professional is in your corner alleviates stress and saves valuable time so you can focus on other important parts of your life.