October may be spooky season, but the real scares come from scammers lurking in your inbox, texts, and even phone calls. Know the common types of fraud, like impersonation calls and social media scams, and follow these 5 tricks to improve your scam awareness and protect your money.
1. Phishing Links
What it looks like:
- An email or text that looks like it’s from your bank, a delivery service, or even a friend.
- Urgent language like “Your account will be locked!” or “Click now to claim your prize!”
- Links that take you to fake websites designed to steal your info.
How to protect yourself:
- Pause before you click. Check the sender’s address carefully. Fraudsters often use subtle misspellings.
- Never enter personal information on a site you didn’t navigate to yourself. When in doubt, open a new tab and go directly to the company’s official website.
2. Impersonation Calls
What it looks like:
- A call claiming to be from a government agency, your bank, or tech support.
- Threats of arrest, legal action, or urgent account issues to scare you into acting fast.
- Requests for payment via gift cards or wire transfers.
How to protect yourself:
- Hang up and call back using the official Bank number.
- Remember: we will never demand payment over the phone or pressure you to act immediately.
3. Social Media Scams
What it looks like:
- Fake online stores offering unbelievable deals.
- “Friend” messages asking for money or sharing suspicious links.
- Posts that promise rewards for sharing personal info or clicking a link.
How to protect yourself:
- Check reviews, URLs, and profiles carefully. Scammers often copy logos and images but can’t fake trust.
- Be cautious about oversharing personal information, even details like your birthday or pet’s name can be used to guess passwords.
4. Text Scams
What it looks like:
- A friendly message from someone who “accidentally” texted you.
- As the conversation continues, they may try to get personal info or send malicious links.
How to protect yourself:
- Don’t engage. Delete the message or block the number.
If you’re unsure, do a quick online search of the number, many scam numbers are reported publicly.
5. Stay informed
Stay informed for your peace of mind. Take a moment to think before you act.
A few quick habits that help:
- Keep your software and devices up to date.
- Use strong, unique and lengthy passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
- Share knowledge with peers about scams.
By staying informed and cautious, you can protect yourself from these common scams. Remember, if something feels off, trust your instincts and take the time to verify before taking any action. Stay safe this spooky season!
If you believe you have been victimized by identity theft, immediately report the incident by calling the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Hotline:
Toll-Free: 1-877-IDTHEFT
TDD: 202-326-2502
Online at https://www.identitytheft.gov/
Also, call us at 1-888-8CAPFED to report any unusual activity related to your accounts.