How to Identify and Avoid Imposter Scams

Published September 17, 2024

In today’s digital world, we always have access to our online accounts. While these advancements have increased convenience, it also exposes us to potential threats. Scams have become an unfortunate reality that can affect anyone. The Federal Trade Commission reported that $8.8 billion was lost to fraud in 2022, rising 30 percent since the previous year.

You have probably heard of the most common scams:

1. Imposter
2. Online Shopping
3. Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries
4. Investment
5. Business and Job Opportunities
6. Romance

Reported most frequently, imposter scams affect both individuals and businesses. Learn the common warning signs and how to protect yourself from imposter scams.

How to Identify Imposter Scams

Have you ever received a suspicious phone call, text, social media message, pop-up message, or email? It could be an imposter scam. These scammers will try to convince you that they are someone of authority to try and get you to send them money or give them access to your digital device, bank account, or other personal information.

These scammers may pose as

• Debt collectors
• Business contacts
• Government agency officials
• Lawyers
• Supervisors or someone in your company’s C-Suite
• Tech support agents
• Celebrities
• Family members
• Friends

To prove their legitimacy, these scammers could mimic the caller ID of an official government entity or business and use the email signature of someone you know. The fraud message usually contains “urgent” information such as a compromised account, a detected computer virus, an unpaid bill, a call for help, or claiming a prize.

Once they get your attention, these imposter scammers will try to get you to make quick decisions that could potentially leave you vulnerable.