Fraud, Scams & Identity Theft Support

If you can answer “YES” to any of the following questions, you could be involved in a FRAUD or about to be SCAMMED!

• Is the CHECK from an item you sold on the internet, such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc?
• Is the amount of the CHECK more than the item's selling price?
• Did you receive the CHECK via an overnight delivery service?
• Is the CHECK connected to communicating with someone by email?
• Is the CHECK drawn on a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?
• Have you been informed that you were the winner of a LOTTERY, such as Canadian, Australian, El Gordo, or El Mundo, that you did not enter?
• Have you been instructed to either “WIRE”, “SEND” or “SHIP” MONEY, as soon as possible to a large U.S. city or to another country, such as Canada, England, or Nigeria?
• Have you been asked to PAY money to receive a deposit from another country such as Canada, England, or Nigeria?
• Are you receiving PAY or a COMMISSION for facilitating money transfers through your account?
• Did you respond to an email requesting you to CONFIRM, UPDATE, OR PROVIDE your account information?

If you or a loved one were solicited through a computer pop-up, social media site, dating site, text, email, or phone call by someone you have never met, and answer “YES” to one of the following questions, you may have been targeted by a SCAM.

• Has someone claiming to be a bank or government agency requested money, or for you to liquidate your accounts, in order to clear you of a crime or secure your accounts?
• Has someone claiming to be a tech or customer support representative requested money to removed a virus or child pornography from your computer or secure your account?
• Has someone contacted you claiming a family member is in danger or jail, and you must send money now to avoid further harm?
• Has someone you never met claimed to be romantically interested in you but requests you send them money or something else of value?
• Have you ever been directed to withdraw cash to purchase gold or silver bars to give someone else?
• Has someone sent individuals to your home or directed you to meet in a public place to drop off or pick up money, or other items of value, to deliver to an unknown person?
• Has someone asked you to obtain cash to either purchase gift cards or deposit in cryptocurrency ATM - or given you a QR code to deposit money into an ATM?

Identity theft continues to be the highest reported consumer crime to the Federal Trade Commission, and has been for fifteen consecutive years.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft victims may:

• Have thousands of dollars in debt accrued in their names
• Get a scarred credit history
• Be denied loans, mortgages, and employment
• Not be able to open a bank account
• Have to spend months or years to try to resolve financial errors and problems

Helpful steps to help protect yourself:

• Brush up on common scams and warning signs
• Keep personal information confidential
• Change your passwords and PINs regularly
• Order your credit reports
• Shred unneeded documents
• Watch out for unusual transactions
• Resist pressure to act quickly
• Talk to your loved ones about fraud
• Report it