Be Wary of Scams and Frauds
As many citizens are trying to cope during these hard economic times, scam artists and cons will use this time to exploit us by any means possible. They prey upon the most vulnerable and today’s economic woes make us more susceptible to falling for one of their schemes.
It is important to recognize the danger signs of scams and frauds. Citizens should always be wary of any requests to wire money, any promises that you can borrow, win or make money easily as long as you pay a fee in advance, any tactics that use intimidation or pressure to make you act immediately or any scenarios in which someone wants to give you a check or money order and asks you to send money somewhere in return.
Citizens should never give out personal information over telephone such as your social security, your birth date, your credit card number or your bank PIN number code unless you initiated the call. As the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding any suspicious calls, letters or e-mails that you receive, contact your local law enforcement agency. Citizens can obtain additional information regarding various scams and frauds by accessing the U.S. government’s official web portal (www.USA.gov) under Consumer Guides. This website is administered by the U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Citizen Services and Communications and has useful information about the various scams and frauds being perpetrated throughout the Country.