Online scams are constantly evolving, and chances are you or someone you love has been a target of scammers. These tips can help you stay vigilant and ensure your finances and personal information are safe and protected.
When in doubt, check it out
Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like
- FTC
- Social Security Administration
- IRS
- Medicare
- A local utility company
- A technologoy company
- A charitable organization.
They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID. So, the name and number you see might not be real.
If something offered online seems too good to be true, it probably is. A quick Google search or a visit to the IRS’ list of scams (irs.gov/newsroom) can save you a world of trouble, and maybe even money.
Most government entities communicate through secure email or mail
While government correspondence often comes through mail or email, scammers usually contact you over the phone and urge you to act quickly. They might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story, or they might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you.
Common scams include saying:
- You’re in trouble with the government,
- You owe money,
- Someone in your family had an emergency,
- There’s a virus on your computer.
- There’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information.
- You won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it.
If you receive one of these phone calls, hang up, report the number to the FTC, and immediately block the number.
You may also receive scams through emails. If an email has a variety of typos or strange requests, report it as spam and delete it from your inbox. Always carefully check the address that an email is sent from to ensure it is from the sender. If you have suspicions, feel free to call the email sender to verify its authenticity but make sure you look up the phone number for yourself and never use the number listed in the email or on the caller ID.
Register your account
Safeguard your money and savings by registering your online account with every institution you have a financial account. This also includes any entity you may have a retirement benefit, savings or insurance. You can make any changes to your OPERS account through the Member Portal. Even if you prefer to take care of business in person, registering online secures your account with a password and makes it more difficult for bad actors to gain access.
Talk about it
If you are concerned that you’re being scammed, don’t be scared to reach out to friends, family, or law enforcement. Before you make a decision, tell someone what happened. Oftentimes, repeating the information out loud could help you realize it’s a scam. Always report a scam attempt to the FTC, it could help others avoid becoming a victim.