7 Government Imposter Scams to Watch Out For

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John Davidson
7 Government Imposter Scams to Watch Out For

Types of Government Imposter Scams

  1. Sweepstakes Scams. In this scam, a so-called government official contacts you with great news: You've won a major prize in a national lottery. ...
  2. Unclaimed Property Scams. ...
  3. Debt Collection Scams. ...
  4. IRS Scams. ...
  5. Immigration Scams. ...
  6. Social Security Scams. ...
  7. Medicare Scams.

  1. What kind of scams are out there?
  2. How can you identify a scammer?
  3. What are imposter scams?
  4. What are the most pernicious types of imposter scams?
  5. How do you outsmart a romance scammer?
  6. How do you know if you are being scammed on the phone?
  7. How do you tell if a scammer is texting you?
  8. What are the signs of an online dating scammer?
  9. How do you know if you are being scammed online dating?
  10. How can you tell if someone is an imposter?
  11. How do I avoid census scams?
  12. How do you protect yourself from a con artist?

What kind of scams are out there?

Ten most common types of scams

  1. Advance fee fraud. ...
  2. Lottery, sweepstakes and competition scams. ...
  3. Dating and romance scams. ...
  4. Computer hacking. ...
  5. Online shopping, classified and auction scams. ...
  6. Banking, credit card and online account scams. ...
  7. Small business scams. ...
  8. Job and employment scams.

How can you identify a scammer?

Know what to look for

  1. you don't know contacts you out of the blue.
  2. you've never met in person asks for money.
  3. asks you to pay for something or to give them money through unusual payment methods such as gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrencies.

What are imposter scams?

In an imposter scam, a dishonest person lies and tricks you into sending money to them. They might call you on the phone or send an email or text. Imposters might try to get you to pay them by asking you to buy a gift card or wire money. They might say: ... you owe money to the IRS or another government agency.

What are the most pernicious types of imposter scams?

What are the most pernicious types of impostor scams, and how can you spot them? IRS scam: Phony IRS agents reach you by phone, email or text message claiming you owe money. ... The IRS never insists on swift payment by debit card, cashier's check or wire transfer.

How do you outsmart a romance scammer?

That's why it's important to know how to outsmart a romance scammer and how to act fast if you think you've been scammed.

  1. Be aware of the warning signs. ...
  2. Evaluate your online presence. ...
  3. Approach online relationships slowly. ...
  4. Set up a phone or video chat early. ...
  5. Don't send compromising pictures.

How do you know if you are being scammed on the phone?

How to Recognize a Phone Scam

  • There is no prize. ...
  • You won't be arrested. ...
  • You don't need to decide now. ...
  • There's never a good reason to send cash or pay with a gift card. ...
  • Government agencies aren't calling to confirm your sensitive information. ...
  • You shouldn't be getting all those calls. ...
  • Imposter scams.

How do you tell if a scammer is texting you?

4 ways to identify scam text messages

  1. Abnormally long numbers. If a text message is legitimate, it's usually from a number 10 digits or less. ...
  2. Family crisis texts. Receiving news of a family crisis is alarming. ...
  3. Text refund. Another common text scam comes in the form of a text refund. ...
  4. Random prizes.

What are the signs of an online dating scammer?

4 Common Signs of a Romance Scammer

  • Romance scammers profess love quickly, without actually meeting you. ...
  • Romance scammers claim to need money for emergencies, hospital bills or travel. ...
  • Online romance scammers try to lure you off the dating site.

How do you know if you are being scammed online dating?

5 Warning Signs that Your Online Romance is Really a Scam

  • They want to text or email instead of using dating apps. ...
  • They fall for you immediately. ...
  • You haven't met them in person. ...
  • Speaking of money, they need some – really, who doesn't? ...
  • They ask you to do things on their behalf.

How can you tell if someone is an imposter?

Keep an eye on the tasks

One of the most reliable ways to figure out who The Imposter is simply to watch the taskbar at the top of the page. A smart Imposter will probably stand next to a panel for a while and pretend to do a task. Once the task is completed, however, the taskbar should fill up in real-time.

How do I avoid census scams?

Avoiding Fraud and Scams

  1. First, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date.
  2. If you still have questions about their identity, you can call 800-923-8282 to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

How do you protect yourself from a con artist?

You can protect yourself from con artists by tackling your financial problems and getting on firmer footing.

  1. If you are heavily in debt, then attend credit counseling. A credit counselor can review your finances and recommend a debt repayment plan. ...
  2. Also consider bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is never ideal.


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