3 Fake Alerts to Avoid

October 25, 2024

By K-Staff

Fraud, Insighter

Scammers are attempting to trick you into believing in fake fraud alerts so they can treat themselves with your hard-earned money and private personal information.

Here are three common scams to watch out for:

1. Fake Fraud Alerts

Scammers pretend to be your bank and companies you might know and send messages about a suspicious transaction. If you reply, they call you and tell an elaborate story about fraud using your identity. They promise to help or pressure you to provide information, but instead drain your account.

DON’T Click on a link in an unexpected message.
DON’T Call back the number that called you.
DON’T Call a number someone left in a voicemail or text message.

What to do: If you think the message might be legitimate, contact the bank or company through their official app, website, support chat, or customer service phone number.

2. Fake Investment Opportunities

Scammers reach out to people through social media with “special” opportunities to invest in cryptocurrency. They guarantee big returns with little or no risk. If you take the bait, they direct you to a spoofed site where you think you are investing. But you are not. It is a fake website. After they have gotten as much as they think they can get from you, they shut down the bogus website and disappear with your money.

DON’T Believe anyone who guarantees you can earn a lot of money on an investment with little or no risk.

What to do: Research the opportunity before you invest. All investments have risks.

3. Fake Invoices

Scammers send you a bogus email about renewing a subscription or membership you never signed up for. For example, they might pretend to be from Geek Squad, Best Buy’s tech support service. The email says they will charge you hundreds of dollars to renew your membership unless you call to cancel within 24 hours. If you call (which you should not do) the scammers, ask for remote access to your computer.

DON’T Provide remote access to your computer. Scammers are known to install spyware and drain money from your bank account.

What to do: If you think the message might be legitimate, contact the company through their official app, website, support chat, or customer service phone number.

Remember: KCU will never ask you for your online credentials, access or pass codes, credit or debit card numbers or remote access to your computer.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, act on it immediately to avoid loss.

Contact your banking institution.
Place a fraud alert with one of the 3 credit bureau agencies: Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. (The agency will contact the other 2 for you.)
Report scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
File a police report with local law enforcement.

Sources:

Three ways scammers try to steal your money | Consumer Advice (https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/10/three-ways-scammers-try-steal-your-money?utm_source=govdelivery)

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3 Fake Alerts to Avoid

1. Fake Fraud Alerts

2. Fake Investment Opportunities

3. Fake Invoices

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