Five Signs It's a Scam! MoneyGram Spotlights Fraud Education
Awareness Campaign Part of National Consumer Protection Week
According to the
You Hit the Jackpot!
You receive an email or phone call stating you won a prize but you must pay fees before receiving it. This is the Sweepstakes Scam. No legitimate sweepstakes will ask for money up front. You should never send money to receive money!
The
You get a phone call claiming you owe "back taxes" and will be arrested
if you don't transfer money fast. This is a scam. Remember, the
Your Relative is in Trouble
You get a phone call from a person claiming to be a friend or family member in trouble who needs cash quickly. This is the "person in need scam" also referred to as the "grandparent scam." Don't send the money unless you can verify with your friend or family member that the story is true.
Get Paid to Shop
You're offered a job to be a mystery shopper. Your "boss" sends you a check to cover the cost of the items you'll buy at the store you are evaluating. When you get the check the money is for more than it should be. The fraudster will ask you to wire the extra back to him. The check turns out to be a fake and once you've sent the money, there's no way to recover the funds.
Act Now! You Won't Find a Better Deal Than This!
You're shopping and find an ad for something you want at an incredible price. The culprits pulling this scam will usually ask you to pay quickly with a money transfer. You may even get a confirmation letter or receipt. But, the reality is this is an Internet purchase scam and the item you bought probably doesn't exist.
"These are all tactics used in common scams that bilk millions of
Americans out of money each year," says
Consumers should also follow the
- Recognize: Savvy consumers should look for red flags when someone asks them to send money through a wire service or money order, because scammers often request these methods knowing that once the money is sent, it cannot be retrieved.
- React: When a consumer identifies a scam, they should immediately put an end to any transaction or conversation - hang up the phone, delete the email, or end the back-and-forth messaging.
-
Report: Report the suspected scam to the local police, and file
reports with the
Federal Trade Commission ,National Consumers League , and Internet Crime Complaint Center (if the suspected fraud was online).
Consumers should call 1-800-
About
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Source:
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