Impersonation Scams
Instances where individuals feign to be the police, a bank, a friend, or a business with the intent of persuading you to transfer funds.
How It Could Happen To You
You receive an email, text message, or call that convincingly appears to be from a familiar acquaintance or entity. Scammers adeptly mimic others, generating calls or texts that seem to originate from legitimate numbers.
They may assert an urgent need for money, claim you have outstanding bills, or insist that your internet service is malfunctioning. Any unexpected contact should be treated with suspicion.
Scammers employ tactics to induce haste or panic, citing fraudulent activity on your account and urging you to swiftly move money to safeguard yourself – a clear indicator of a scam.
Manipulating caller ID, email addresses, or text message labels, scammers conceal their true identity through 'number spoofing,' presenting themselves as someone familiar to you.
If you encounter unsolicited messages or calls, especially those soliciting funds, terminate the call. Verify the genuine number using a reliable source, such as the company's website, and then initiate a callback.
How To Protect Yourself
Exercise caution before clicking links in text messages and emails, particularly those prompting you to divulge personal information or make payments.
Refrain from granting remote access to your computer or device to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Keep in mind – a legitimate company or organization would never request payment through the purchase of items like vouchers, jewelry, or gold.
No reputable source would ask you to transfer your funds to a 'safe account' or claim that 'your money is at risk.' Any occurrence of this nature is indicative of a scam.