Spotting Scams and Frauds

With the rise of AI, scams and frauds have only gotten harder to spot.

Here’s a few things to look out for when receiving messages from unknown senders.

1. Short Timelines: Promises of extreme consequences if requests are not met, or limited time opportunities is an easy way to spot a scam.
2. “Secure” Accounts: Scammers will often ask you to move money into a “safe” account or state that your assets are not “safe” unless you take action with them.
3. Do It – Or Else: Threats of fees, legal action, or public humiliation are designed to scare victims. Legitimate organizations don’t use intimidation tactics.
4. Too Good to Be True: Huge deals, dream job offers, and lucrative investments – if it sounds unreal, then it probably is.
5. Technology Support: Be wary of anyone asking to access your device remotely. If you did not initiate a service request, it’s likely a scam to access sensitive digital information.
6. Links: When scrolling through search results or receiving messages from a seemingly legitimate organization, be wary of anything urging you to click a link.
7. Sloppiness: Bad grammar, awkward speech patterns, or strange movement in video calls – these are often signs of a scam and not just human error or poor connection.

Four Ways to Protect Yourself from Scammers

• Always verify any information or requests with a third party or another channel of communication.
• Never share personal or sensitive information over the phone.
• Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
• Check your bank statements regularly for unauthorized transactions.
• Toggle your Civic Central debit card off if you suspect fraud.