Scams

Scammers often use phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, and websites to trick people into sending money or sharing personal information. While scam tactics change over time, many rely on the same warning signs: urgency, fear, excitement, or promises that seem too good to be true. 

Download our Slam the Scam Brochure to easily share this important information with your loved ones.

Follow our Five P’s of Scams!

1. Pretend: Scammers pretend to be someone you trust, such as a government agency, law enforcement officer, bank, etc.
2. Promise: They promise prizes, romance, investment opportunities, discounts, or quick solutions. 
3. Problem: They create a problem, such as unpaid bills, legal trouble, account issues, or family emergencies.
4. Pressure: They pressure you to act immediately before you have time to verify the information.
5. Pay: They request payment through unusual methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer payment apps. 

AI, Deepfakes, and Voice Cloning Scams

Artificial Intelligence gives scammers new ways to make their scams look and sound real. Scammers can use AI to create a convincing fake photo, video, text message, or even a recording of someone’s voice.

Deepfake Scams is media that has been manipulated/generated using AI to make someone appear to say or do something they never actually said or did. Scammers can use deepfakes to impersonate:

• • • • Family members and friends
      • Law enforcement officers
      • Government officials
      • Celebrities or public figures
      • Doctors or other professionals

Voice Cloning Scams — Scammers use a short recording of someone’s voice to create a convincing imitation. They may pretend to be a child, grandchild, spouse, friend, employer, police officer, or other trusted person.

The Best AI Scam Defense: Verify — When something seems urgent, emotional, or unusual, slow down and verify it through another method.

• • • If someone says they are your grandchild, hang up and call their usual phone number.
    • If someone claims to be from your bank, hang up and call the number on the back of your bank card.
    • If someone claims to be a law enforcement officer, government official, or business representative, independently look up the agency or organization’s official phone number and contact them yourself.
    • Don’t use the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the suspicious message.

Charity Scams

Fraudulent charities often emerge after natural disasters, emergencies, major news events, or holidays. Scammers use emotional appeals to pressure people into donating quickly.

Warning Signs

• • High-pressure requests for immediate donations.
  • They refuse to provide information about the organization.
  • Requesting payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

Stay Safe
Research charities before donating and verify organizations through trusted sources.

Medicare and Health Insurance Scams

Scammers may call, text, email, or advertise fake health insurance offers. They often claim to represent Medicare or another government agency and request personal information.

Warning Signs

• • Requests for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or banking information.
  • Promises of special benefits or discounts.
  • Claims that you need a new Medicare card immediately.

Stay Safe
Before providing information, contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE.

Prize and Sweepstakes Scams

You receive a call, email, letter, or text claiming you have won a prize, lottery, or vacation. Before you can collect your winnings, the scammer says you must pay fees, taxes, or processing costs.

Warning Signs

• • Requests for payment before receiving a prize.
  • Demands for immediate action.
  • Requests for banking or credit card information.

Stay Safe

If you did not enter a contest, you did not win one. Legitimate prizes do not require upfront payments.

Robocall and Text Message Scams

Warning Signs

• • Unexpected calls from unknown numbers.
  • Messages claiming immediate action is required.
  • Requests to click links or verify personal information.

Stay Safe
Hang up on suspicious calls, delete suspicious text messages, and never click links from unknown senders.

Romance Scams

Scammers create fake online profiles on dating apps, social media platforms, or messaging services to build trust with their victims. Once a relationship is established, they ask for money, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

Warning Signs

• • They quickly express strong feelings, such as love.
  • They claim to live or work far away.
  • They avoid meeting in person or video chatting.
  • They ask for money because of an emergency or travel expense.

Stay Safe
Never send money or financial information to someone you have only met online.