Tips to Protect Yourself from Scam

• Don’t pick up calls from unknown callers or respond to text messages from unknown sources. Instead, screen the call or review where the text message is coming from and confirm the sender.
• In any emails, always review the “from” email address to ensure that the email address is from the correct sender before reading or responding to the email.
• Do not download information or apps at the request of an unknown person or website to your devices.
• Utilize multifactor authentication with any important accounts and do not share multifactor authentication codes or login information.
• Use secure internet connections and limit using public wi-fi options.
• Check your own credit report and the reports of minor children to ensure that no unwanted lines of credit have been taken out under your identity. To check a minor’s credit file, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• Checking your credit is free and can be done by visiting the AnnualCreditReport.com website.
• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit report through the following credit reporting agencies:
  • Equifax
    Phone: 1-888-378-4329.
    By mail, fill out and print the Equifax credit freeze form and send to Equifax Information Services LLC, Post Office Box 105788, Atlanta, Georgia, 30348-5788.
  • Experian
    Phone: 1-888-397-3742.
    By mail, provide a self-written letter and send to Post Office Box 9554, Allen, Texas, 75013.
  • TransUnion
    Phone: 1-888-909-8872.
    By mail, provide a self-written letter and mail to address: Post Office Box 160, Woodlyn, Pennsylvania, 19094.

Online shopping

• Shop from trusted online websites and retailers and compare prices before making an online purchase.
• Beware of any advertisements that endorse “too good to be true” discounts or savings.
• Read the fine print or terms and conditions for returns, replacements, refunds, and complaints when purchasing products.
• Use caution when purchasing from marketplaces like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Craigslist,
  Nextdoor, or other online platforms.

Stay safe by recognizing common scams:

• Imposters – posing as a member of law enforcement or the District Attorney’s Office.
• Jury Duty – a scammer pretends to be a member of law enforcement or the court system. This scam begins with a phone call saying that you have missed your jury duty summons and a warrant has been issued for your arrest. The scammer will offer an alternative which will be a fee to remove the warrant. This is a scam. Law enforcement agencies will not request payment over the phone. Instead, contact your local law enforcement agency to ask if there is a warrant out for your arrest and what steps you need to take to resolve it.
• Romance scams typically start by receiving a greeting through text message, email, direct message through social media, or a dating website. The scammer will converse with you frequently, love-bomb you, and share details about their fake life. Eventually they will ask for money in the form of covering the cost of a financial problem they have or request money from you with the promise to marry you. This is a scam. Most times scammers will ingratiate themselves with their victims and while it is a scam, it feels like a very real relationship for the victim.
• Tech support scams or when a pop-up appears on your computer screen stating you have been exposed to a virus or malware. This is usually accompanied by a phone number to call that will provide “tech support” with a well-known company. This tech support will ultimately have you pay for their service or have you download a program to your device that will give them complete remote access.
• U.S. Citizenship scams are when fake lawyers will offer quick backdoor access or special services that promise to get a person immediate U.S. citizenship for a large sum. This is a scam. No lawyer can remove all roadblocks from U.S. citizenship. Often these services are advertised as “notaries” to lure immigrants to their services.