A scammer pretends to be someone you trust – a government agency like the Social Security Administration or the IRS, a family member, a love interest, or someone who claims there`s a problem with your computer. The scammer may even display a fake name or number on your caller ID to convince you. Don`t trust emails claiming to be from the Census Bureau. This agency uses mail to invite people to participate in its surveys. If you receive an email from the Census Bureau, it`s probably a scam. Ponzi schemes collapse if they can`t recruit enough new entrants to pay previous investors. These scams always fail – it`s mathematically guaranteed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers may try to take advantage of you. You can contact us by phone, email, mail, SMS or social networks.
Protect your money and identity. Don`t share personal information such as your bank account number, social security number, or date of birth. Learn how to detect and report a COVID vaccine scam and other types of coronavirus scams. Vermonters filed 5,021 fraud reports with the Attorney General`s Consumer Assistance Program (PAB) in 2020. Social Security number phishing scams, which typically involve making calls claiming your Social Security number has been compromised, suspended, or linked to criminal activity, remained the most frequently reported scam for the second year in a row, with 1,160 reports reported. Number two on the list of top ten scams in 2020 was „free money“ scams. Six hundred and eighty-three Vermonters said they received fraudulent „free money“ calls telling them they had won a prize or money and had to pay fees or taxes upfront to get them back. While fraud attempts remain high, Attorney General T.J. Donovan urged Vermonters to take their time: scammers will pressure you to act quickly, demanding personal information and payments, while threatening extreme consequences if you don`t comply.
Don`t let yourself be put under pressure! You can report scams to the federal government. Your report may deter others from becoming victims of fraud. Government agencies use scam reports to track fraud patterns. You can even take legal action against a company or industry based on the reports. However, agencies usually don`t follow up after your report and can`t recover lost money. Report coronavirus-related scams and other disaster- and emergency-related scams. If you paid a fraudster with a credit or debit card, you may be able to stop the transaction. Contact your credit card company or bank immediately. Tell them what happened and ask for a „chargeback“ to quash the charges.
Scammers on the phone tell people they need to be prosecuted and respond with the right information so that legal action can be taken. Scammers promise free or low-cost vacations that can end up costing you dearly in hidden costs. And sometimes, after paying, you find out that there is no vacation. With timeshare resale scams, scammers lie and tell you that they will sell your timeshare – and maybe even have a buyer – if you pay them first. The scam: You receive an email or phone call that claims to be from a bank. Emails may claim that your account is at risk or has been suspended, or that your card is suspended due to suspicious activity. The email also contains links to fake websites. Phone calls may claim that there has been fraudulent activity with your account, and scammers will ask for personal information about you and your account. Scammers attempt to obtain your money or personal information through fake sweepstakes, sweepstakes, or other contests. Many claim that you have won a prize, but have to pay a fee to get it back. Others require you to provide personal information in order to participate in a „contest“.
These scams can reach you by mail, email, phone, robocall or SMS. What to do: Make your transactions in cash and preferably in person. If they refuse to meet in person or talk on the phone, ignore them and stop communicating. Don`t give in to pressure to act immediately. Follow these tips to spot census scams so you don`t become a victim. This is called price reduction and it is illegal. If you suspect a price drop, report it to your Attorney General. When a business sells something, they need your written permission to call you with an automated call.