I’ve posted a bunch of finds from scams I’ve run into on this blog. Some scams I tried to play out and posted images of the fake checks and communication. The scam landscape continues to change and its good practice to review what the latest trends tend to be.
Chase posted common scams they are hearing customers are being impacted by. I feel its a pretty good list and worth a review. My personal best practice is to question things and double check via going directly to the source of any link vs clicking the link directly. Here is the list from Chase. I like the headline which states “Smart people of all ages are being scammed”.
Be ready. Smart people of all ages are getting scammed.
Anytime someone says you need to pay with a gift card, it’s most likely a scam. Be aware that if you buy gift cards with your credit card and give the scammer the gift card codes, it’s very unlikely you’ll get your money back.
- For sale, hot deal – Scammers post on social media marketplaces pretending to have great deals. You pay and the item never arrives.
Be cautious of great “deals.” Once you send money, you may not get it back. - Hire us, special offer – Scammers advertise deep discounts on services like house repairs and cleaners using social media. You pay, they never show.
Research the company and only hire licensed contractors before you book. - Bank impersonation – Scammers text, email or call pretending to be from your bank saying there’s an issue with your card, tricking you into sharing account information.
If you’re not 100% sure it’s your bank, call the number on the back of your card. - Pay a fine, or else – Scammers imitate government institutions like the police or IRS to induce fear and urgency, threatening you to pay a fine to avoid being arrested.
Be cautious of threatening messages. Contact the institution directly yourself before you pay anything. - Cute puppies for sale – Scammers advertise adorable pets and ask for a deposit. You pay and the pet never existed.
Don’t send your personal information or payment without seeing the pet in-person first. - Problems with your order – Scammers act as reps from companies you trust, getting you to send money to resolve an “issue” that doesn’t exist.
Be suspicious of companies reaching out, saying there’s a problem. Call the company directly to confirm. - A loan you didn’t apply for – After stealing an identity, scammers take out loans, rent apartments, even empty bank accounts.
Enroll in Chase Credit Journey® for free and get notified when activity linked to your identity is found.