What is an Imposter Scam?

An imposter scam takes place when a scammer pretends to be someone you would typically trust, and then provides a reason why you need to send money right away.

Examples of Imposter Scams

• The scammer pretends to be a family member who is in some kind of trouble and they need you to wire or send money to them right away.
• The scammer pretends to be the police or a court official and tells you that you need to be pay taxes or some kind of debt immediately.
• The scammer pretends to be someone from the IRS claiming there is a problem with your return and you need to verify personal information.
• The scammer pretends to be from your bank and that there is a problem with your account, or your debit card, and you need to verify account information or other personal information.
• The scammer pretends to be someone from a sweepstakes or contest and tells you that you've won but you will need to send money to claim your prize.

Know the Red Flags

• Be suspicious of any call from your bank or a government agency asking for money or information. Neither will ask for personal information over the phone, in an email, or in a text.
• Be suspicious of anyone asking you to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps.
• Caller IDs can be faked. If a call is suspicious, but the caller ID seems legit- it could still be a scam.
• You will never need to pay for a prize.
• Scammers stress a sense of urgency so that you feel flustered and can't think the situation through. Be suspicious of anyone who pressures you into acting immediately.

Avoid the Scam

• Never give out your personal information to someone you don't know!

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