What is an Impostor Scam?
An impostor scam takes place when a scammer pretends to be someone you would typically trust, and
then provides a reason why you need to send money right away.
Examples of Impostor Scams
-
The scammer pretends to be a family member who is in some kind of trouble and they need you to wire or send
money to them right away.
- The scammer pretends to be the police or a court official and tells you that you need to be pay taxes or some
kind of debt immediately.
- The scammer pretends to be someone from the IRS claiming there is a problem with your return and you need to
verify personal information.
- The scammer pretends to be from your bank and that there is a problem with your account, or your debit card, and
you need to verify account information or other personal information.
- The scammer pretends to be someone from a sweepstakes or contest and tells you that you've won but you will need
to send money to claim your prize.
Know the Red Flags
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Be suspicious of any call from your bank or a government agency asking for money or information. Neither will
ask for personal information over the phone, in an email, or in a text.
- Be suspicious of anyone asking you to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps.
- Caller IDs can be faked. If a call is suspicious, but the caller ID seems legit- it could still be a scam.
- You will never need to pay for a prize.
- Scammers stress a sense of urgency so that you feel flustered and can't think the situation through. Be
suspicious of anyone who pressures you into acting immediately.
Avoid the Scam
- Never give out your personal information to someone you don't know!
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