What is an Imposter Scam? An imposter scam is when someone poses as your friend, a business, a romantic interest, a charity, or some other trusted source, and reaches out to you requesting money. The request looks real, but isn’t.
Classic Warning Signs:
- A text or phone call from someone pretending to be a bank. Maybe they contact you about a recent transaction or maybe they ask if they can have remote access to your computer to “protect” your account. Don’t fall for it! It’s a scam.
- Businesses claiming you owe them money. If they threaten you just hang up the phone.
- Someone claiming to be from an internet service, such as AT&T or Comcast, suggesting that they have detected spyware on your device and that they need your credit card information in order to keep it from being shutoff.
Tips to Protect Yourself:
- Don’t send money to someone you don’t know. Once you do, it will be hard to track and hard to reverse.
- Verify information is real. Use the customer service phone number that is listed on one of your statements and call to verify that they were trying to reach you.
- Hang up on unknown and unsolicited callers.
- NEVER give out personal information, such as your credit card, where you bank, social security number or anything else.