Elliott Greenblot: How Can You Tell If It’s A Scam? What You Need To Know | Jobs

is it a scam?This is the most frequently asked question we address

There is no easy answer to this rather simple question. The answer is complicated and he has to answer three questions. How did “they” communicate: phone, email, online/social media, text message, in person, mail? Who are “they” — law enforcement, government agencies, tech support, Amazon companies, utility companies, relatives, romantic relationships, and what did “they” demand?

• Money: cash, gift cards, Zelle/Venmo payments, wire transfers, credit cards, cryptocurrencies?

• Personal Information: Account Information, Social Security or Medicare Number, Date of Birth.

• Is the payment related to a problem (unpaid bills or taxes) or a family emergency?

• How much does it cost to win a prize?

• Emergency money?

Let’s group the pieces by means of communication.

phone: Answer the call only if you know the caller for sure. Transfer the call to voicemail. Serious callers leave messages. Scammers usually don’t.

Email: Criminals are good at “spoofing” (impersonating others). Hover your device’s cursor over the sender’s name to see the actual address. A company email address @gmail is rare.

Social media: Watch out for “pop-up” messages from “friends” and unrealistically priced deals that appear. Again, scammers are fine impersonators. Verify your identity before giving away money or information.

Text message: Sending text messages is virtually free. Responding to random text messages or clicking links when you can’t verify the sender’s identity puts you at risk. A response informs the sender that the contact number belongs to someone and sets the stage for further fraud attacks.

Door to door: Winter isn’t the typical time for face-to-face contact, but one thing we’ve come to expect is the unexpected. , do not open the door.

USPS Mail: In general, mail-to-consumer mail fraud is uncommon for one basic reason. Still, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service points to hundreds of fraud cases involving mail fraud. (Visit the website uspis.gov/tips-prevention/mail-fraud.)

Let’s look at the “who” of the three questions above.

Was it law enforcement? Law enforcement agencies do not notify you of impending arrests. Also, there is no demand for immediate payment. Was it a government agency? Initial contact is usually by email. Calls, texts, or emails demanding payment or action — it’s a scam!

Microsoft, Apple, Windows, and Google do not separately notify consumers of personal issues. Tech companies never call or email you about your computer. If enough people call a tech company about the same problem, the company will (sometimes) make a statement and offer a solution.

What about Amazon calls? No, it’s not — it’s a scam. Is it a message from your bank or credit card company? If you cannot reliably verify your identity, hang up or do not answer the call. Instead, use a trusted number like the one on your statement and call to see if there are any issues that need your attention.

Need to help a relative or friend who is facing an emergency? This scam has a high success rate as it is based on personal emotions. Dodge this ruse. Say “I’ll call you back” and hang up. Then call someone or someone you know personally about the emergency.

Special Note: Gift Cards are not legal tender! Government agencies, law enforcement, and businesses do not accept Apple Gift Cards (unless they are Apple).

Did you win the lottery? Probably not, and you won’t be notified by email or phone if you win. In most cases, you will need to contact us yourself or through an agent. It is illegal for lotteries to claim winnings!

Finally, beware of romance scams. These work on emotions and develop over weeks or months. Criminals use personal histories, fabricated details, and stock photos to create synthetic identities.

Perform background checks and identity checks online to verify the identity of the person you are in a relationship with. If the person is unable to meet in person due to work or military service, you are most likely dealing with a criminal.

Questions/comments? Contact egreenblott@aarp.org.