Anatomy of a Scam

Scammers target specific types of people. This includes: 

• People who have been scammed before. 
• People going through hard times, like job loss or the death of a loved one. 
• Older adults. 
• Recent immigrants. 

At some point, almost everyone fits into one of these groups. Scammers think this makes us easy targets, but learning the warning signs can help you avoid their tricks. 

Scammers usually reach out to you. They don’t wait for you to find them. They also reach out in unusual ways. 

Examples: 

• Usually your bank communicates by email, but they just sent you a fraud alert by text. 
• A company you do business with emails you from a Gmail or Yahoo address instead of their business email. 
• Someone contacts you on a gaming or dating platform about a financial opportunity. 
• An online ad tells you about a government benefit but says you must act fast, or you will miss out. 

Scammers want you to stop thinking clearly. They do this by giving you news that is too good or too bad to be true. 

Examples: 

• A job that pays a lot for easy work you can do on your own schedule. 
• Someone is very interested in you romantically, even though you only met when they texted you by accident. 
• A government agency says you owe a large sum of money and threatens immediate criminal action, even though you don't think you owe them anything. 

When people get very good or very bad news, feelings like excitement, loneliness, or fear can take over. That makes it harder to think clearly.  

Getting scammed does not mean you were foolish. Scammers are experts at targeting people who are just trying to do the right thing. 

Scammers do not want you to take time to check things or ask others for advice. They pressure you to act quickly, hoping you will not double-check the details. 

Examples: 

• You already paid, but now they need an “expedited processing fee” or you will lose all the money you sent. 
• You get an email saying your "Geek Squad" subscription is renewing. Call now to cancel or lose your money. 
• Someone calls sounding like your grandson. He needs money wired immediately or he won't get out of jail.  

You almost never have to make quick decisions about sending large amounts of money. If it is not a scam, you should have time to think and research before acting. 

Scammers try to build trust with you. That way, you don’t second-guess them when the scammer asks for something unusual.  

They do this by pretending to be something they’re not. 

Examples: 

• Impersonating a trustworthy organization like a government agency or a large corporation. 
• Creating a sense of intimacy, such as building a romantic relationship with you over time. 
• Giving you small payouts first, so you trust the investments they told you about and are willing to invest more. 

Scammers don’t want you talking to your family and friends to make sure you’re making the right decision. So, they may: 

• Tell you that you are under a legal obligation to keep it secret, like a “gag order.” 
• Convince you that you or someone in your family will be harmed, emotionally or even physically, if you tell anyone. 
• Build a relationship with you so that they can tell you to keep it secret to protect them. 

You might feel embarrassed and not want to tell anyone if you think you have been scammed. But staying silent can stop you from getting the help you need. And speaking up can also help others in your community from getting scammed in the future. 

Scammers want you to pay in ways that are hard to get back if they are successful. They often ask for payment through cash apps or gift cards. They might also: 

• Tell you to use a “friend-to-friend” service to avoid fees. But really, it prevents you from disputing the payment later. 
• Ask to pay for something at a strange time, like before they pick up something you’re selling. Most people want to see what they are buying before they send money. 
• Convince you that you need to use this form of payment so they aren’t scammed, preying on your sympathy. 
• Ask you to use a cryptocurrency ATM, even if you've never used cryptocurrency before. Or ask you to use gift cards or cash cards. 

Keep in mind that real businesses and government agencies accept many types of payment. If someone insists you use only one app or an app you have never heard of or used before, it is probably a scam.  

The best protection against scams is to pay using a credit card or debit card.