USEFUL INFO

PROTECT YOURSELF

  • Don't give out any personal information over the phone to anyone you don't know and/or trust.
  • Consider putting yourself on a no-call list to limit unwanted solicitations and protect yourself from possible scams.

 

DID YOU KNOW?
Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine sophisticated technology with age-old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. They add new twists to old schemes and pressure people to make important decisions on the spot. One thing that never changes: they follow the headlines — and the money. Stay a step ahead with the latest info and practical tips from the nation's consumer protection agency.
SIGNS
OF FRAUD

    If the offer seems like it is "too good to be true," it probably is.

    • Must pay to win and must pay now
    • Must decide now
    • Pressure you for a credit card number
    • They instruct you not to tell anyone
    • Tell you that the initial investment will be well worth it
COMMON
CON GAMES

    Some of the consumer con games to be aware of:

  • Home repair – offers of free estimates and inspections
  • Debt Consolidation –
    offers with high interest rates
  • Medical Fraud – never buy “medical cures”
JURY DUTY SCAM ALERT

The phone rings, you pick it up, and the caller identifies themselves as an officer of the court. They tell you that you have failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller then says they’ll need some information for “verification purposes” – your birth date, social security number, maybe even a credit card number. This is when you should hang up the phone. It’s a scam.
The judicial system does not contact people by telephone and ask for personal information such as your date of birth, social security number, or credit card numbers. If you receive one of these calls do not provide any personal or confidential information to these individuals.

To read more about this scam, visit www.fbi.gov and type “jury scam” in the search box.