Let’s all stay safe from fraudsters and predators. Here’s our new regular coverage of the most recent scams.
MISSED JURY DUTY SCAM
Missing jury duty can come with real consequences. You could face a fine, go to court, or even get arrested. Scammers take advantage of that to get your money or sensitive information. But their story is a lie.
This scam usually starts with a phone call or an email from someone claiming to be from the police department or a court official. (They’re not.) They say you missed jury duty, even though you never got a jury duty notice. They’ll tell you there’s a warrant out for your arrest, and the only way to cancel it is to pay a fine. (It’s a lie.) If you refuse, they may threaten you with jail. Or they might ask for personal information like your Social Security number or date of birth to steal your identity.
To make the scam seems real, scammers also might give you a fake sheriff’s badge number and case number.
Here’s how you can tell it’s a scam:
Courts never ask for immediate payment over the phone. In fact, no government agency will do that.
Only scammers insist that you can only pay with gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram because it’s very hard to get your money back if you pay in these ways.
Courts never ask for sensitive personal information over the phone, like your Social Security number or date of birth. Only scammers do.
If you get a call or email like this, hang up or don’t respond. Don’t pay or give them any personal information. If you think a call or email could be real, call the court directly at a number you know is correct. Learn more about other ways scammers pretend to be the government. If you spot it, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
– By Yajie Mu,
FTC Consumer Education Specialist
LONG LOST FRIEND SCAM
You get a text message from a number you don’t know, asking when you’re free to catch up over a cup of coffee. Don’t perk up just yet. That invitation for a coffee date might sound like it’s from a friend you’ve lost touch with, but it’s probably just a scammer looking to start a conversation with you. Not sure how to respond? The short answer is: Don’t. Keep reading to find out why.
Scammers will say just about anything to get your attention. In this case, they might text you and ask if you want to meet up for a cup of joe. If you respond—maybe by telling them they’ve got the wrong number—you’re letting them know that your phone number works, which could lead to more calls and texts from the scammer. Or worse, they might say something else to keep the conversation going. They might apologize, then pitch you a scam—maybe by asking if you’re interested in learning about a secret way to make big money using cryptocurrency. That’s always a scam! The best way to handle this situation is to slow down and:
Don’t respond to unexpected text messages like this from unknown phone numbers. Some messages from unknown numbers might be legit, but this isn’t your doctor’s office confirming an upcoming appointment. Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future.
Don’t click on links in unexpected text messages. They might steal your information or install malware on your device. Scammers want you to react quickly to unexpected text messages, but it’s best to stop and check it out. Or just delete it.
– By Terri Miller.
FTC Consumer Education Specialist
INHERITANCE SCAM
People are getting letters in the mail from a law firm saying that one of their clients has died and they’re looking for the heir. You are, they say, that heir! (Spoiler alert: You’re not.) The letter goes on to explain their offer: they want to split the proceeds between you, some charities, and their law firm. But what’s really going on?
This is not a lawyer—it’s a scammer. That’s the most important thing to know. But the letter sounds convincing, explaining that the firm has tried to contact family members. No heir, they say, has come forward to collect the multi-million-dollar life insurance policy or inheritance. It might be tempting to reply, just to see if you really can get some of the money. But that’s where the scam kicks in. If you contact them, they’ll try to get your personal and financial information, like your Social Security number or bank account number, your money—or all of the above. Oh, and that life insurance policy or inheritance? It doesn’t exist at all. It’s a scam.
Here’s what to do if you get one of these letters:
1. Don’t respond. Keep your money and information to yourself. Never send money or information to a stranger who promises big rewards. That’s always a scam.
2. Pass this information on to a friend. You probably throw away these kinds of letters. But you also probably know someone who could use a friendly reminder that these are scams.
3. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
– By Jim Kreidler,
FTC Consumer Education Specialist
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14 Nov 2024
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Let’s all stay safe from fraudsters and predators. Here’s our new regular coverage of the most recent scams.
MISSED JURY DUTY SCAM
Missing jury duty can come with real consequences. You could face a fine, go to court, or even get arrested. Scammers take advantage of that to get your money or sensitive information. But their story is a lie.
This scam usually starts with a phone call or an email from someone claiming to be from the police department or a court official. (They’re not.) They say you missed jury duty, even though you never got a jury duty notice. They’ll tell you there’s a warrant out for your arrest, and the only way to cancel it is to pay a fine. (It’s a lie.) If you refuse, they may threaten you with jail. Or they might ask for personal information like your Social Security number or date of birth to steal your identity.
To make the scam seems real, scammers also might give you a fake sheriff’s badge number and case number.
Here’s how you can tell it’s a scam:
Courts never ask for immediate payment over the phone. In fact, no government agency will do that.
Only scammers insist that you can only pay with gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram because it’s very hard to get your money back if you pay in these ways.
Courts never ask for sensitive personal information over the phone, like your Social Security number or date of birth. Only scammers do.
If you get a call or email like this, hang up or don’t respond. Don’t pay or give them any personal information. If you think a call or email could be real, call the court directly at a number you know is correct. Learn more about other ways scammers pretend to be the government. If you spot it, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
– By Yajie Mu,
FTC Consumer Education Specialist
LONG LOST FRIEND SCAM
You get a text message from a number you don’t know, asking when you’re free to catch up over a cup of coffee. Don’t perk up just yet. That invitation for a coffee date might sound like it’s from a friend you’ve lost touch with, but it’s probably just a scammer looking to start a conversation with you. Not sure how to respond? The short answer is: Don’t. Keep reading to find out why.
Scammers will say just about anything to get your attention. In this case, they might text you and ask if you want to meet up for a cup of joe. If you respond—maybe by telling them they’ve got the wrong number—you’re letting them know that your phone number works, which could lead to more calls and texts from the scammer. Or worse, they might say something else to keep the conversation going. They might apologize, then pitch you a scam—maybe by asking if you’re interested in learning about a secret way to make big money using cryptocurrency. That’s always a scam! The best way to handle this situation is to slow down and:
Don’t respond to unexpected text messages like this from unknown phone numbers. Some messages from unknown numbers might be legit, but this isn’t your doctor’s office confirming an upcoming appointment. Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future.
Don’t click on links in unexpected text messages. They might steal your information or install malware on your device. Scammers want you to react quickly to unexpected text messages, but it’s best to stop and check it out. Or just delete it.
– By Terri Miller.
FTC Consumer Education Specialist
INHERITANCE SCAM
People are getting letters in the mail from a law firm saying that one of their clients has died and they’re looking for the heir. You are, they say, that heir! (Spoiler alert: You’re not.) The letter goes on to explain their offer: they want to split the proceeds between you, some charities, and their law firm. But what’s really going on?
This is not a lawyer—it’s a scammer. That’s the most important thing to know. But the letter sounds convincing, explaining that the firm has tried to contact family members. No heir, they say, has come forward to collect the multi-million-dollar life insurance policy or inheritance. It might be tempting to reply, just to see if you really can get some of the money. But that’s where the scam kicks in. If you contact them, they’ll try to get your personal and financial information, like your Social Security number or bank account number, your money—or all of the above. Oh, and that life insurance policy or inheritance? It doesn’t exist at all. It’s a scam.
Here’s what to do if you get one of these letters:
1. Don’t respond. Keep your money and information to yourself. Never send money or information to a stranger who promises big rewards. That’s always a scam.
2. Pass this information on to a friend. You probably throw away these kinds of letters. But you also probably know someone who could use a friendly reminder that these are scams.
3. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
– By Jim Kreidler,
FTC Consumer Education Specialist