Online scams are becoming more and more common – in 2023 alone, identify fraud cost Americans $43 Billion, most of these scams began online.  

Scams are a crime – using fraud and manipulation to get you to part with your money or personal information. Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organizations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment. 

It’s not just the harmful financial implications that make these scams so dangerous but the psychological and emotional harm that often occurs as a result as well. To help avoid online fraud, there are things you can do to keep your identity safe and protect your money from criminals. 

Not sure what a scam is? 

To make it simple to stay safe, there are three easy questions to ask yourself to help decide if something might be a scam. 

• Has someone contacted you unexpectedly? Contact out of the blue is always a red flag? 

• Have they promised you something? If they’re promising you something – why? Is this too good to be true? 

• Have they asked you to do something? Are they asking you to provide your personal or financial information? Why would they ask you to do this? Often, this request will be time sensitive. They want you to make the decision without really thinking it over. 

If any or all these questions are a ‘yes’ then feel free to challenge. It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. 

What should you do if you think you’re the victim of a scam or identity theft?  

Stop all contact with the scammer: Once you realize you are being scammed, do not continue the conversation. Don’t reply to emails or letters scammers have sent you. If you have been scammed online, block the scammer from contacting you. 

Do not make any more payments: Some scammers target people caught in recent scams by pretending to be an overseas enforcement agency that can return all of your money for a fee. Don’t give money to anyone on the promise they will get your lost money back. Unfortunately, if you have paid scammers, the chances of recovering your money are not good. 

Contact the bank or service you sent money through: If you are the victim of a financial scam, credit card scam or identity theft, contact your bank immediately. They will have a policy in place to deal with fraud. If you have sent money through another bank or transfer service, it’s a good idea to contact the service you used. If you notice unusual transactions you haven’t authorized, report these immediately. 

Report the fraud or scam: If you’ve had personal documents stolen (such as passports, driving licenses, credit cards), report this to the Police and the organization that issued them. Also report the scam or fraud itself. It helps others avoid this kind of scam and puts you in touch with someone who can give you advice about your specific situation. You can contact FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection to report fraud.  

Request a copy of your credit report: Check for any suspicious credit applications that may have been made using your information. 

Reset your security: If your personal or financial information has been given out or stolen in a scam, change all of your online passwords on a device not linked to the scam. Use a different password for each account. If your computer or phone has been hacked in a scam, take it to an authorized technician to be cleaned.