Scammers get more sophisticated every day, so it’s important to be alert. We’ve put together some examples of the most common scams, to help keep you protected.
Scammers do everything they can to appear legitimate. Learning about the different types of scams can help you to protect yourself when you get a phone call, or an official-looking letter, email, or text message. We'll help you question any correspondence you receive, so you don't fall for a scam.
If you think you’ve been the victim of a scam, please contact your local bank branch as soon as you can.
Someone contacts you on social media — and they’re interested in getting to know you. Or maybe you meet someone special on a dating website or mobile app. Soon the person wants to write to you directly or start talking on the phone. They say it’s true love, but they live far away — maybe because of work, or because they’re in the military.
Learn more about Romance Scams
Someone might offer you a job. Or say you’ve won a sweepstakes. Or start an online relationship with you. Whatever the story, next they want to send you money – and then ask you to send it on to someone else. They often say to wire the money or use gift cards.
Learn more about Money Mule Scams
You get a call: “Grandma, I need money for bail.” Or maybe an email from someone claiming to be your brother or a friend who says they’re in trouble. They need money for a medical bill. Or some other kind of emergency. The caller says it’s urgent — and tells you to keep it a secret.
Learn more about Grandparent Scams
You get a call, letter, email, or text saying that you won! Maybe it’s a vacation or cruise, a lottery or a sweepstakes. The person calling about your prize is so excited. They can’t wait for you to get your winnings.
Learn more about 'You've Won' Scams
You see an ad saying you can earn big money, even working from home. Another ad offers help starting an online business — with a proven system to make money. Maybe you uploaded your resume to a job search website, and someone contacts you for an interview — but first, they want your driver’s license and bank account numbers.
You get a call or message from someone who says they’re a computer technician. Or a number appears in a pop-up message on your screen. Or maybe you’re looking for tech support and call a number you find in a search engine. The person on the phone says they’re from a well-known company like Microsoft or Apple. And they tell you about viruses or other malware on your computer. Maybe they’ll ask you for remote access to your computer or say you must buy new software to fix it.
Learn more about Tech Support Scams
Someone knocks on your door or calls you. They say they can fix your leaky roof, put in new windows, or install the latest energy efficient solar panels. They might find you after a flood, windstorm, or other natural disaster. They pressure you to act quickly and might ask you to pay in cash or offer to get you financing.
