Protect Yourself from Scammers

“Chances are good that someone you know has been scammed. They may not talk about it, but the statistics do.”
Source: www.ftc.gov/passiton

Over the years, many of our clients have fallen victim to various types of scams, fraud and identity theft. As scammers become even more sophisticated, we have seen an uptick in the number of attacks that our clients and loved ones have faced. In fact, just this last week we filed a report and a complaint for a client who unfortunately lost thousands of dollars in an attempt to obtain his/her "unclaimed property." As your advisors, we want to do everything in our power to help keep you protected. 

Please do not feel embarrassed if you have fallen victim to any of these offers. Scammers are very skilled, do not abide by any type ethical code, and materials can look very official and be very convincing. It can honestly happen to anyone, and these instances need to be reported. 

If you feel unsure about any offer you are given (or are currently involved with), PLEASE give our office a call and we will help you in researching the company/charity/sweepstakes/etc and help you coordinate filing a claim to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if they are, in fact, fraudulent. 

Never give out your personal information to an unknown party
Never send money via postal money order/western union/cash/check
Never make a rash decision. If the offer is valid, you will not be rushed or pressured into making a decision
Always call us or a trusted family member if you are suspicious of any offer.

Below are some very helpful links that we found from the Federal Trade Commission’s website (www.ftc.gov/passiton) on how to identify and respond to common types of scams that you may encounter:

Phone Scams
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-phone-scams#Signs
“You’ve Won a Sweepstakes or Lottery”
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0119-jamaican-fraudsters-targeting-us-consumers
Telephone Scams (travel packages, credit loans, etc)
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-phone-scams#Signs
Sham Charities
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/ftc-and-states-wrap-largest-charity-enforcement-action-ever
IRS Impersonators
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/another-tax-scam-irs-imposters
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Content in this material is for general information only, and not intended to be a substitute for individualized legal advice. Please consult your legal advisor regarding your specific situation.