Fraud Awareness
Spot Common Scams
Elder Scams
Scammers will use tricks to form close relationships with elderly people, offering to take care of their finances or help them with a purchase. They reach their targets through telemarketing or pretending to call on behalf of a bank. Be vigilant when it comes to phone calls and emails from people and companies you don’t recognize.Gift Card Scams
One common scam includes a caller asking for payment by having you purchase a gift card and give them the details. If you think a gift card is a strange way to pay, that’s because it is. Wiring money leaves a paper trail, whereas giving gift card details over the phone does not. Consumers should only purchase gift cards as gifts, not payments. If someone insists you pay with a gift card, it’s a scam.Online Shopping Scams
If you find an offer when shopping online that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Look for the same product or service on other websites to get an idea of what the product is worth. Scammers could be promising something they can’t – or won’t – deliver. When paying for your goods, always make sure you use a trustworthy third-party payment service and don’t pay cash directly. A third party can track your money and may be able to return it in the event something goes wrong.Elder Scams
Scammers will use tricks to form close relationships with elderly people, offering to take care of their finances or help them with a purchase. They reach their targets through telemarketing or pretending to call on behalf of a bank. Be vigilant when it comes to phone calls and emails from people and companies you don’t recognize.Gift Card Scams
One common scam includes a caller asking for payment by having you purchase a gift card and give them the details. If you think a gift card is a strange way to pay, that’s because it is. Wiring money leaves a paper trail, whereas giving gift card details over the phone does not. Consumers should only purchase gift cards as gifts, not payments. If someone insists you pay with a gift card, it’s a scam.Online Shopping Scams
If you find an offer when shopping online that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Look for the same product or service on other websites to get an idea of what the product is worth. Scammers could be promising something they can’t – or won’t – deliver. When paying for your goods, always make sure you use a trustworthy third-party payment service and don’t pay cash directly. A third party can track your money and may be able to return it in the event something goes wrong.Lottery or Sweepstakes Scams
If you receive a call or email congratulating you on winning a prize or contest, but don’t remember entering a sweepstakes, alarm bells should be ringing. The caller will usually ask you to send a smaller sum of money for customs or processing. Never send funds to someone you don’t know.Charity Scams
Someone you don’t know might call on you and ask for donations to a relief fund or another kind of charity. They might pressure you into donating to them personally, rather than elsewhere. If you do want to donate to a charity, it’s always best to go through the proper channels, such as calling them directly or visiting the official website.Emergency Scams
There’s a type of scam where you’re asked to pay money to help a family member who has gotten themselves into a sticky situation. It could be bail money or a steep repair bill – either way, the relative has asked you to step in and send the cash. If you don’t hear from them personally, or if something doesn’t add up, don’t send any money.Government Imposter Scams
You may receive a phone call or message from someone claiming to work for the government, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), court official, or a law enforcement agency. The caller or message might demand payment and threaten legal action if you do not comply. Never send money or gift cards to someone claiming to be from the government. This should be taken to your local law enforcement agency, and you should contact them directly.Lottery or Sweepstakes Scams
If you receive a call or email congratulating you on winning a prize or contest, but don’t remember entering a sweepstakes, alarm bells should be ringing. The caller will usually ask you to send a smaller sum of money for customs or processing. Never send funds to someone you don’t know.Charity Scams
Someone you don’t know might call on you and ask for donations to a relief fund or another kind of charity. They might pressure you into donating to them personally, rather than elsewhere. If you do want to donate to a charity, it’s always best to go through the proper channels, such as calling them directly or visiting the official website.Emergency Scams
There’s a type of scam where you’re asked to pay money to help a family member who has gotten themselves into a sticky situation. It could be bail money or a steep repair bill – either way, the relative has asked you to step in and send the cash. If you don’t hear from them personally, or if something doesn’t add up, don’t send any money.Government Imposter Scams
You may receive a phone call or message from someone claiming to work for the government, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), court official, or a law enforcement agency. The caller or message might demand payment and threaten legal action if you do not comply. Never send money or gift cards to someone claiming to be from the government. This should be taken to your local law enforcement agency, and you should contact them directly.Tips to Avoid Fraud
Verify the legitimacy of individuals or companies before sending money. Be cautious of unexpected messages requesting funds and confirm the sender’s identity directly to ensure authenticity.
Unauthorized access to your financial details enables individuals to make purchases on your behalf. Monitor your credit report regularly for unfamiliar accounts or information. Obtain a free annual report from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion and dispute any discrepancies through the credit reference agencies.
Ensure strong and unique passwords for online accounts, avoiding easily guessable information like birthdays or anniversaries. Regularly update passwords and use distinct ones for each account.
Use credit cards or trusted payment providers for fraud protection and better chances of reimbursement in case of scams. Beware of unconventional payment requests, such as gift cards or bitcoin, which may signal dishonest deals. When selling items online, be cautious of scams involving fake checks, as they may lead to financial losses and fees if the check bounces.
Check for scams online by using resources like the Better Business Bureau's search tool or simply by searching the company name on Google for reviews and testimonials from other customers who may have encountered similar issues.
Scammers will want to act quickly so you don’t have time to get wise to their tricks. Ask for more time to make your decision and see how they react. If they try and pressure you into acting it’s a major red flag.
How to Report Fraud
Contact Your Local Law Enforcement
The authorities will ask you for details about the fraud and may ask you to provide evidence of the transaction.
Contact Your Local Law Enforcement
The authorities will ask you for details about the fraud and may ask you to provide evidence of the transaction.
Report to Your State’s Consumer Protection Agency
They will begin investigating fraudulent activity and potentially prosecute those guilty of violating consumer laws. Find your State’s Consumer Protection Office.
Report to Your State’s Consumer Protection Agency
They will begin investigating fraudulent activity and potentially prosecute those guilty of violating consumer laws. Find your State’s Consumer Protection Office.
Report to Federal Government
They can conduct investigations into fraudulent activity and potentially prosecute those guilty of violating consumer laws. Find the relevant agency.
Report to Federal Government
They can conduct investigations into fraudulent activity and potentially prosecute those guilty of violating consumer laws. Find the relevant agency.
Fraud Reporting Resources
Federal Trade Commission
If you suspect a scam, report it. Sites like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) let you report a potential scam, contributing to the prevention of others falling victim to scams.Fraud.org
Fraud.org is a project under the National Consumers League that works to help prevent scams. Sign up for their monthly alerts to see what scams are circulating in your area, ask the experts, or report a potential scam.Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
This government- run website provides all you need to know on your consumer rights, from the laws protecting you to helpful information on preventing fraud.U.S. Postal Inspection Service
From identity theft to fake sweepstakes, mail fraud is one of the main types of scams. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service hopes to raise awareness about different types of mail fraud with free tips and resources.Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
A regulator that helps to protect consumers from unfair practices or fraud.Internet Crime Complaint Center
This site handles internet crime complaints, including non-delivery of goods, computer hacking and advance-fee schemes. You can also claim on behalf of another person if you think they’ve been a victim.Econsumer.gov
Econsumer.gov handles international scams and your report will help the organization identify global trends.Federal Trade Commission
If you suspect a scam, report it. Sites like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) let you report a potential scam, contributing to the prevention of others falling victim to scams.Fraud.org
Fraud.org is a project under the National Consumers League that works to help prevent scams. Sign up for their monthly alerts to see what scams are circulating in your area, ask the experts, or report a potential scam.Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
This government- run website provides all you need to know on your consumer rights, from the laws protecting you to helpful information on preventing fraud.U.S. Postal Inspection Service
From identity theft to fake sweepstakes, mail fraud is one of the main types of scams. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service hopes to raise awareness about different types of mail fraud with free tips and resources.Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
A regulator that helps to protect consumers from unfair practices or fraud.Internet Crime Complaint Center
This site handles internet crime complaints, including non-delivery of goods, computer hacking and advance-fee schemes. You can also claim on behalf of another person if you think they’ve been a victim.Econsumer.gov
Econsumer.gov handles international scams and your report will help the organization identify global trends.Fraud Awareness FAQs
- Being asked to send money to an unknown person or business, sometimes as an emergency.
- Someone asking you to deposit a check they have sent, then telling you to send them back some of that money.
- A person or business contacting to say you have won a prize draw, then asking you to send money to cover fees and taxes, to claim your winnings.
- Claim lottery/prize draw winnings
- Pay federal, state or local government taxes or fines
- Donate to charity, especially non-registered organizations
- Resolve immigration matters
- Pay for a purchase already made online
If you’ve been the victim of a scam online, contact your local police authority and provide as many details of the scam as you can. Then, you can report any fake websites you visited or emails you have received to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). If you think this is an international, rather than a US online scam, please report this through econsumer.gov.
If someone has taken your money without your permission, or you have given someone money and suspect false pretenses, this could be a sign you have been a victim of fraud. You should contact your local law enforcement and file a report, as soon as possible.
You can contact your local police authority and provide evidence of the fraud that has taken place. You can also report it to your state consumer protection office. You can inform the federal government about fraud too. Simply contact the Federal Trade Commission to file a scam online.
There are many common consumer scams to look out for when sending money.
Online money transfers are safe, as long as you know who you are sending the money to and the exact amount. It’s much more secure to make a transaction through an approved money transfer service, bank or credit union, who will have their own security protocols to keep money transfers safe.
Money orders are secure for both buyers and sellers. That’s because the name of the recipient and institution that issued the money order are recorded. Because you write this on your money order form, it makes it harder for fraudsters to steal money.
At Money Services, we keep your money transfers safe and ensure you can send and receive funds securely. We will always ask for ID whenever someone sends or collects money, whether by check, money order or online transfer. So should any fraudulent activity occur, we have a record of that transaction. It is important for you to verify the person receiving your money, so you can keep your money safe.
Gift cards are secure and should only be used as gifts. They should never be used as a way to pay bills, fees, fines, or anything other than gifting. If someone asks you to purchase a gift card to help a relative in need or someone else, it’s probably a scam. Only ever buy a gift card to give as a present to someone you know and through a trusted provider.
Our biggest tip to avoid fraud is to only transfer money to friends, family members or businesses that are legitimate. Never make a money transfer or buy gift cards to: