Advance Fee Scams

RECOGNIZE:

Follow these guidelines to spot shipping fee scams:

• Be cautious if the price of an item is free, significantly lower than its market value or seems too good to be true.
• Beware of unsolicited DMS offering you items for free if you just pay shipping.
• Watch out for a sense of urgency or pressure to push you into making a quick decision without thinking it through. They may say that the offer is only available for 24 hours or use language such as “limited time offer,” “one time only,” etc.
• Be wary of sellers who provide little or no information about themselves or the items they are selling.
• Watch out for sellers who ask for personal information under the guise of needing it for shipping or payment purposes.

REPORT AND RECOVER:

Follow these steps to minimize damage and protect yourself from further harm:

• Stop all contact with the individual(s) who contacted you.
• Save all information or messages about the individual(s) who contacted you in case you need to take legal action.
• If you provided financial information, like your credit card number or bank account information, contact your bank or credit card company right away. They may be able to help you cancel the transaction or get your money back.
• If you paid using gift cards or a wire transfer, contact the issuer. They might be able to help you stop the transaction.
• If you provided personal information, like your Social Security number, you may be at risk for identity theft. Keep an eye on your credit report and financial accounts for any unusual activity, and consider placing a freeze on your credit.
• Report it to the FTC—even if you didn’t lose money—at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

COMMON TACTICS USED IN SHIPPING FEE SCAMS:

Limited-Time Offers

Scammers claim that their products are available for free or at an unbelievably low cost, but only for a short period.

Fake or Nonexistent Products

Scammers use appealing images and descriptions of products that either don’t exist or are of extremely low quality. 

Low Shipping Fees

Scammers make it seem like you’re getting a fantastic deal by only paying a small amount for shipping, which is a fraction of the actual product’s value.

Phishing

Scammers often collect personal and financial information. They can use this information for identity theft or other fraudulent activities.

Ghosting

Scammers stop responding to messages, delete their social media profiles, and make it nearly impossible for you to track them down or seek a refund.

RECOGNIZE:

Follow these guidelines to spot lottery/prize scams:

• Be skeptical if you receive a notification claiming you’ve won a lottery or prize for a contest you never entered. Legitimate lotteries and contests typically require participation or purchase of a ticket for entry.
• Beware if the prize seems unrealistically large or valuable for minimal effort. Scammers often promise huge sums of money, luxury items, or extravagant vacations to lure victims.
• Be cautious if they insist that you must pay taxes, fees, or other charges upfront to claim your prize. Legitimate winnings are not contingent on upfront payments.
• Be wary of high-pressure tactics, such as claiming that you must claim your prize within a very short timeframe. This urgency is designed to prevent you from carefully considering the offer.
• Beware of request for your personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account details, or credit card information. Legitimate lottery or contest organizers don’t need such sensitive information to award prizes.

REPORT AND RECOVER:

Follow these steps to minimize damage and protect yourself from further harm:

• Stop all contact with the individual(s) who contacted you.
• Save all information or messages about the individual(s) who contacted you in case you need to take legal action.
• If you provided financial information, like your credit card number or bank account information, contact your bank or credit card company right away. They may be able to help you cancel the transaction or get your money back.
• If you paid using gift cards or a wire transfer, contact the issuer. They might be able to help you stop the transaction.
• If you provided personal information, like your Social Security number, you may be at risk for identity theft. Keep an eye on your credit report and financial accounts for any unusual activity, and consider placing a freeze on your credit.
• Report it to the FTC—even if you didn’t lose money—at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

5 TACTICS USED BY LOTTERY/PRIZE SCAMMERS:

Phishing Messages

Scammers often send unsolicited messages via email, text, or social media, claiming that you’ve won a prize, a lottery, or a contest you never entered. 

Impersonating Recognizable Brands

They use logos, branding, and official-looking documents to make their messages seem legitimate.

Unrealistic Prizes

Scammers promise prizes that seem too good to be true, such as large sums of money, luxury vacations, high-end electronics, or luxury cars.

Emotional Manipulation

Scammers play on your emotions by telling you heartwarming or sob stories, claiming that your entry will support a good cause, or suggesting that you’ve been specially selected as a winner.

Personalized Scamming

Some scammers personalize their messages by addressing you by name or referencing specific details about your life, gathered from public sources or previous online interactions. 

RECOGNIZE:

Follow these guidelines to spot job offer scams:

• Be cautious if you receive a job offer out of the blue, especially if you haven’t applied for the position. Scammers often send unsolicited job offers to unsuspecting individuals.
• Ensure the job description is clear, specific, and matches your qualifications. Be wary if the offer is vague or seems too good to be true.
• Be highly suspicious if the employer requests any upfront payment for things like training materials, background checks, or equipment. Legitimate employers typically cover these costs.
• Beware of scammers who pressure you to make quick decisions or claim the job is a limited-time offer to rush you into paying fees.
• Be skeptical of companies that lack a digital presence. Verify the contact information provided by the company, such as a physical address and phone number.
• If something doesn’t seem right, discuss the job offer with friends, family, or career advisors to get their input and perspectives.

REPORT AND RECOVER:

Follow these steps to minimize damage and protect yourself from further harm:

• Stop all contact with the individual(s) who contacted you.
• Save all information or messages about the individual(s) who contacted you in case you need to take legal action.
• If you provided financial information, like your credit card number or bank account information, contact your bank or credit card company right away. They may be able to help you cancel the transaction or get your money back.
• If you paid using gift cards or a wire transfer, contact the issuer. They might be able to help you stop the transaction.
• If you provided personal information, like your Social Security number, you may be at risk for identity theft. Keep an eye on your credit report and financial accounts for any unusual activity, and consider placing a freeze on your credit.
• Report it to the FTC—even if you didn’t lose money—at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

5 COMMON PAYMENT METHODS USED BY SCAMMERS:

Wire Transfer

These transfers are difficult to trace, making it easy for scammers to disappear once they receive the funds.

Prepaid Debit or Gift Cards

They instruct you to purchase prepaid debit cards or gift cards and share the card details with them. Once they have access to these funds, they are virtually untraceable. 

Bank Account Details

They ask you to provide your bank account information under the guise of setting up direct deposit for their salary. Instead, they use this information to withdraw money from your account.

Payment Processing Services

These services are often exploited because transactions happen relatively quickly and provide limited recourse for victims.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency transactions offer a high level of anonymity and lack regulations, making it challenging to trace and recover funds once they’re sent.