Scams are rampant, with new ones popping up all the time as scammers adapt to new technologies, the latest trends and current events. Although the variety of scams can seem endless, there are some common characteristics that can help you recognize and avoid a scam.
Be on the lookout for these red flags:
- Being asked to pay money in order to receive a prize or get a job
- Pressure to act immediately
- Use of scare tactics, e.g. telling you a loved one is in danger, that your computer has been hacked or threatening arrest if you don’t act now
- Insistence that you wire money or pay by gift card
- Receiving a check or overpayment and being asked to wire a portion of the funds back
- Being asked to provide your password, PIN, Social Security number, account number or financial information to someone who contacts you out of the blue
- Get-rich-quick and other promises that sound too good to be true
If you are not sure whether a contact or solicitation is legitimate, hang up the phone, or, if it’s an email or text, do not reply, click on any links or download any attachments. Then, look up the actual contact information of the company or organization and call that number to verify whether you need to take any action or provide any information.
You can report a scam to our office by calling (404) 651-8600 or by filing a complaint here.
