DFCU Blog

Recognizing common signs of a scam is becoming more difficult as the scammers are getting more clever with their schemes. They often pretend to be someone familiar, such as a family member, a charity or a company you regularly work with to trick you into sharing personal information or to send money.

Protect yourself and your loved ones by learning how to identify common scams and what to do if you are targeted.

Signs of Scams:

1. Scammers pressure you to act immediately.
2. Promise there is a prize.
3. Urge you about a problem like suspicious account activity.
4. Provide specific instructions for payment like buying gift cards or sending money orders.

How to protect yourself:

1. Secure your information with a strong password and use multifactor authentication.
2. Avoid clicking unknown links.
3. Block unwanted calls or text messages.
4. NEVER share personal or financial information.
5. Stay calm and don’t feel pressure to act quickly without doing a quick internet search.

How to Report a Scam:

If you suspect a scam, report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also report scam-related fraud to your financial institution, local law enforcement, or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.

Spreading awareness is key—inform your family, friends, and community to help prevent others from falling victim to scams. Stay vigilant and stay safe!