Oct 22, 2021

How to Spot a Scam and What to Do if You Fall Victim to One

A laptop is on a table with a cup of coffee and a cell phone on its right side with the words "scam" on the screen.
Online scams have been around for years but the COVID-19 pandemic has opened more doors for thieves to access your personal information and siphon funds from your accounts. Scammers have taken to phone calls, email, text messages, and even online ads to trick you into revealing private information. According to the 2021 Identity Fraud Study by Javelin Strategy & Research, American consumers saw a loss of $56 billion due to identity fraud. While scams have evolved and thieves are utilizing more and more channels to gain access to your information, there are ways to stay safe and identify a scam before it’s too late. Read on to find out which red flags to look out for and what you should do if you happen to fall victim to a scam.

What’s a phishing scam?

A phishing scam is when a scammer attempts to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment to gain access to your personal information. They’re usually made to look like they’re coming from a trusted and reputable source like your bank or even a family member. The link is usually accompanied by a message that will ask you to click on the link. These phishing links can be sent via email, text message, or through your favorite social media networking site or app.

Phishing red flags to watch out for:
  • They claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information
  • The message states you must confirm some personal information
  • They’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts
  • Includes a fake invoice
  • An urgent request for you to click on a link to make a payment
  • Stating you’re eligible to register for a government refund
  • An offer for free stuff
  • The message is sent from a public email domain
  • The domain name is misspelled
  • The email or message is poorly written
  • The message includes suspicious attachments or links
What to do if you’ve engaged with a phishing email or text message and how to report it
  • Update your computer’s security software. Then run a scan.
  • Visit IdentityTheft.gov. There you’ll see the specific steps to take based on the information that you lost.
  • How to report: 
- Step 1 - If you received a phishing email, forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. If you got a phishing text message, forward it to SPAM (7726). 
- Step 2. Report the phishing attack to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What’s a tech support scam?

A tech support scam involves making you believe that there’s a problem with your computer when there isn’t a problem. Oftentimes, they’ll make mention of a virus to get you to pay for tech services to fix a non-existent issue. Scammers will request you pay via gift cards or money transfer apps which will make tracking the crime and reversing any damage done much harder. 

Tech support red flags to watch out for:
  • Legitimate tech companies won’t contact you by phone, email, or text message to tell you there’s a problem with your computer. If your receive an unexpected call from someone telling you there’s a problem with your computer, don’t entertain the conversation and simply hang up.
  • If you get a pop-up window on your computer with an urgent request to call a phone number, don’t call the number. Real security warnings and messages will never prompt you to call a phone number. If you suspect there’s an issue with your computer, remember to run a security scan to help reveal any real problems.
What to do if you were scammed and how to report it
  • If you paid the scammer using your debit or credit card, contact your bank right away. Tell them what happened and ask if they can reverse the charges.
  • If you paid using a gift card, contact the company that issued the card right away. While it doesn’t guarantee a return, tell them you paid a scammer with the gift card and ask if they can refund your money.
  • If a scammer gained remote access to your computer, be sure to update your computer’s security software and run a scan. Delete anything that’s been revealed as a problem. 
  • If you provided your username and password to a tech support scammer, create a new and stronger password. 
  • If a tech support scammer contacts you, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What’s a romance scam?

Romance scammers look for victims on dating sites and social media, creating fake profiles to engage in conversations and build trust. They’ll maintain talks for a while oftentimes chatting several times a day. Once they have established a form of trust, the scammer will then create a story and ask the victim for money.  

Romance scam red flags to watch out for:
  • Scammers will often say they are: working on an oil rig, in the military, a doctor with an international organization.
  • Will request money for a plane ticket or other travel expenses, surgery or other medical expenses, customs fees to retrieve something, gambling debts, a visa, or other official travel documents
  • Will ask to pay by wiring money or via gift cards
What to do if you’ve fallen victim to the scam and how to report it
  • Stop communicating with the person immediately.
  • Do a search for the person and the type of job the person has to see if other people have similar experiences.

  • Take a note from the MTV show, Catfish and do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture to see if they are who they say they are.

  • If you think it’s a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Notify the website or app where you met the scammer, too.