Be Fraud Wise

Be smart when it comes to sharing your personal information, banking account information, and online banking credentials. The most common victims of fraud are those unaware and incautious. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identified the most common types of fraud and scams:

• Charity scams - A scammer will pose as a real or fake charity to get money from you.
• Debt collection, settlement, and relief scams - A scammer will pose as a debt collector to try to get you to pay debt you don't really owe.
• Regulator logo misuse - A scammer displays the FDIC logo to try and assure you your money is safe when it isn't.
• Foreclosure relief, mortgage loan modification scams - A scammer will make a false promise to save you from foreclosure.
• Grandparent scams - A scammer will pose as a grandchild asking to wire or transfer money.
• Imposter scams - A scammer will pose as someone you know and trust to get money.
• Mail fraud - Mail that includes a fake prize, sweepstakes, or vacation to scam you into sending personal information.
• Money mule scams - A scammer will offer promises of easy money with little effort in order to get you to move fraud money around.
• Money transfer, mobile payment services fraud - A scammer will use mobile payment services to trick you into sending money without giving anything in return.
• Lottery or prize scams - A scammer will call to say you've won a prize through the lottery but you need to pay an upfront fee and taxes first.
• Romance scams - A scammer will pose as a new love interest to trick you into falling for them when they just want your money. 

Although these scams differ in the type of scheme, the tactics found in all fraud scams have the same goal: to obtain personal information and financial information to steal money.

Please report to your financial institution and the appropriate agency if you feel you've been a victim of fraud. More information available here: Where to report scams | USAGov