There are several common frauds/scams we have seen an influx in.
Phone scams are pretty common. The criminal(s) call, identifying themselves as someone such as being a police officer, being with the IRS or being with a financial institution. The criminal may attempt to gain personal identifying or banking information by asking you to confirm your name, date of birth, social security number and account numbers.
The criminal may also request you purchase a gift card or multiple gift cards of their specified choosing (such as Amazon or Apple gift cards). The criminal may make threats such as putting a warrant out for your arrest if you don’t comply and provide the gift card number on the back of the gift card(s).
Criminals also try to commit fraud by calling on Ad’s such as Craigslist and attempt to negotiate or send more money than what the item is selling or renting for. The criminal then persuades you to send them the amount over paid or provided account or personal identifying information.
Things to remember;
* The police do not accept any sort of payment via gift card.
* If you suspect a call is fraudulent involving a banking institution request, call the bank by looking up the number yourself and not calling the number provided by the possible criminal.
* Never provide any personal information to unsolicited phone calls.
* If it sounds too good to be true or sounds suspicious then trust your judgment and don’t provide information which would leave you open for being a victim of fraud.