If you watch, listen, or read the news – you very likely will be exposed to stories about the various ways fraudsters are stealing money from everyday people. You may think that these scamsters only target people in big cities, if so, you are WRONG! Many times, they prefer people in smaller communities because we can be more trusting. We want to believe people are good and honest. Most are – but not everyone. So, stay on guard when a stranger calls!
Here are a few current scams to watch out for:
- Someone claiming they are investigating your bank or someone at your bank. They may ask you to take out large amounts of cash and send it to them for safekeeping. They may claim to be a member of law enforcement.
- Romantically focused scams can be in depth and even include someone that video chats with their victim. A lot of the time, this creates greater trust because there is a face to go with a voice. These people will eventually ask for money – and they won’t stop. If the money stops, they go away.
- Lottery scams have been around for a long time. These folks will tell you that you need to send them money to claim your prize and pay for processing. Remember two things when it comes to lottery winnings:
- You can only win a lottery if you ENTERED the game.
- You NEVER need to pay money up front to claim a prize.
Be cautious when talking to anyone over the phone about your bank accounts. We will never ask for passwords or pin numbers. And remember – we are your neighbors and don’t want anyone to steal what you worked hard to earn!
Be careful out there!
