Six warning signs of phone/computer scams

Have you ever cashed a check for a lottery that you didn’t enter? Perhaps you’ve been unexpectedly contacted by a fast-talker and pressured into releasing personal information? Maybe you’ve had a distant or unknown relative ask you for money in an emergency situation.

Chances are, if any of these have happened to you, you’ve been scammed. Don’t worry, many honest, good people are scammed. To prevent yourself from falling victim—whether for the first time or again—keep an eye out for these six warning signs that will help you know fraud is afoot.

1. Offered something for nothing. If it’s too good to be true, then it’s probably a scam. Scammers love to offer stuff for “free.”

2. Received a check and have been asked to send money back. Fraudsters will ask you to cash/deposit a check and send back a portion of the funds. In the end, you’ll learn the check was counterfeit, and you have no way to get back your money.

3. Pressured by an aggressive fast-talker. These people play off of your fears and the need to act immediately. They’ll demand credit card, bank account or other personal information now—and won’t let you off the phone until you do so.

4. Asked to verify personal information. Unless you’ve contacted them to open a new account, the places where you do business (including your bank or credit union) already know your personal information. If you’re asked to give your full social security number, birth date, maiden name, etc., then it’s probably a scam.

5. Unexpected phone call or solicitation. Don’t remember entering your name in a drawing or buying a lottery ticket? You probably didn’t. If you’re contacted out of the blue, ask additional questions. If the caller claims to represent a business you recognize, hang up and call the number you have on file.

6. Poor spelling and grammar. A letter or email that’s riddled with spelling and grammatical mistakes should raise red flags.

While con-men are always finding new tools to help them separate good people from their money, the basics remain the same. Here are six that never seem to go out of style:

Grant scam. One type of grant scam wants to reward you for being a “good citizen,” while another claims you are receiving an “economic stimulus check” from the government. You’ll be asked to cash the check and then send a portion of the funds back to cover fees and taxes, which could be sizeable. And the check is bogus.

“Granny scam.” The scammer will pretend to be a relative in need of emergency assistance outside of the country. Before wiring your grandkids money, give them or their parents a call to verify the story.

False collections. Fraudsters will scan obituaries and court notices for instances where they can claim to be calling on behalf of a collection agency. They’ll demand payment and threaten to sue for fake medical bills, payday loans, and other debts that are owed by loved ones.

Craigslist scams. Keep an eye out for individuals who want to buy something without looking at it—or sellers who don’t have any pictures. Pay close attention if they “accidentally” send you more money than your asking price—they’ll want you to send the extra money back after you cash a bogus check. If you answer an employment ad or post your resume on Craigslist, beware of job offers that don’t require any hiring paperwork, or ask you to pay bills or re-ship goods on behalf of the employer.

Sweetheart scam. Scammers also use online dating sites and personal ads to start a relationship under false pretenses. They’ll patiently earn your trust over a period of five to 15 months, and then ask you to wire money to help with an emergency situation or cover travel expenses so the two of you can meet face to face.

Secret shopper scams. There are legitimate secret shopper programs out there. Usually they pay you with gift cards to the places you visit. If they ask you to cash a check and send part of the money back for fees, taxes, etc., then it’s probably a scam.

If you receive any of these via the mail, email, SMS text, or phone call, immediately report it to your financial institution and local authorities. Let your financial institution know about any unexpected check you receive; they can place a hold on it and determine if it is legitimate before you deposit/cash it and spend the money.

To get more tips, visit http://www.stcu.org and type “fraud” in the search box for additional resources.

Lance Kissler is an eBusiness Development Officer at Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU) and developed a “Prevent Fraud & Identity Theft” community workshop in conjunction with STCU’s Fraud Prevent Manager Jim Fuher. Lance graduated from Odessa High School in 2000 and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Eastern Washington University.