BEWARE: PHISHING SCAMS

Phishing scams deceive people into giving away sensitive information by pretending to be legitimate organizations or businesses. Scammers use fake emails, text messages, or websites that mimic real ones, urging quick action through links or attachments. The data stolen through phishing is often used for identity theft or financial fraud. To protect yourself, verify the authenticity of unexpected messages, avoid suspicious links, and use strong and unique passwords.

RED FLAGS

These are common signs that you may be facing these types of scams:

Bank Impersonation Fraud

• You receive a text message, phone call, or email indicating that your account information has been compromised. They may ask for personal information like usernames, passwords, PINs, and Social Security Numbers to “secure” your account. They may also ask you to transfer funds using a P2P payment app, like Cash App, PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle.

• Banks will never contact you and ask you to share sensitive personal information over the phone, via text message, or email. They will never ask you to transfer money to anyone, including yourself, or ask you to provide personal information to obtain a refund or issue a correction.

Debt Collection Fraud

• The person calling you says you will go to jail if you don’t pay the debt they are describing. It is illegal for debt collectors to threaten to have someone arrested for not paying their debts.

• The person calling will not tell you to whom you owe money. Legitimate debt collectors will always tell you who the creditor is, even if you don’t ask them.

• Legitimate debt collectors provide ample time to pay off your debt and will work with you. Scammers will pressure you to pay while they have you on the phone.