How To Spot A Scam

You get a message, call, or email out of nowhere from an organization you recognize, but you weren’t expecting it.
Someone says you won a contest or prize you never entered.
You can’t easily call them back or verify who they are.
Their message has poor grammar or wording that feels “off.”
They say there’s a problem with your account, even though everything seems fine.
They pressure you to act quickly.
They ask you to pay with gift cards, bitcoin, wire transfers, or anything unusual.
They tell you to keep the situation a secret from family or the police.
They push for personal or financial information.
They insist you stay on the phone and not hang up.
They use scary words like “emergency,” “jail,” “fees,” or “penalties".
More and more scammers prefer being paid with cryptocurrency, because it’s hard to trace.

Grandparent (Emergency) Scams

You receive a call from someone claiming to be a grandchild in trouble.
They may use the real name of your grandchild.
They beg you not to tell their parents.
If you notice their voice sounds different, they’ll say they’re sick, scared, or the phone connection is bad.
A fake “officer” or “lawyer” may join the call and demand money for bail or legal fees.

Romance Scams

Someone contacts you online through a dating site or social media.
They use a fake identity — sometimes pretending to be a celebrity or someone with an impressive job.
They spend months building trust and bonding over shared “interests.”
They talk about future plans, shared goals, and may even suggest starting a business with you.
They never meet in person and always have excuses:
- “I’m out of town for work.”
- “My business is overseas.”
- “The military sent me abroad.”
- “I’m offshore for work.”

Tech Support Scams

Government Impersonation Scams

They contact you pretending to be the IRS, Medicare, Social Security, FBI, or police.
They claim you owe money or need to “verify information.”
They often use threats, like jail time or penalties, to scare you into paying.

Fake Prize or Lottery Scams

You get a message saying you won a prize, money, or sweepstakes.
They ask you to pay shipping fees or taxes before you can claim it.
Sometimes they send a fake check that is more than the prize amount and ask you to send back the “extra.”
The check later bounces, leaving you responsible.

Home Repair Scams

TV/Radio Scams

Scammers use fake ads that look like legitimate services (reverse mortgages, credit repair, etc.).
The services are not real or not as advertised.

Family Caregiver Scams

A family member or someone close to the victim misuses trust or access to take their money or assets.