Current Scams
August 2024 – Current Scams
It is back-to-school season and scammers are trying to bait students and parents into falling for their schemes. Some current scams in the news lately are about school supplies for next to nothing and financial aid and scholarship fraud. The seasons change as do the schemes that bad actors use, but the gist stays the same. They want you to respond to them so they can take your assets or your identity. It is important to stay up to date on the different types of scams and be aware that they use all forms of communication, including email, mail, text message, telephone, social media, and apps. They make it appear as if the communication is from a trustworthy source. To help you Schwab has put together a guide that details different scams, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Below are a few of the types of scams the brochure covers:
1. Government impersonator – the criminal pretends to be from a government agency, such as SSA, IRS or law enforcement. Don’t trust your caller ID. Call the agency back at the number listed on their official website to determine if the communication is legitimate.
2. Tech or fraud support – the criminal pretends to be from a well-known software company. Don’t respond to unsolicited phone calls or pop-up warnings on your device.
3. Real estate scam – the criminal sends spoofed emails to homebuyers posing as the title company with false instructions for wiring money for the closing. Always verbally verify closing instructions by calling the number that is known to you.
If you would like to read Schwab’s Scam Definitions and Prevention Client Guide, we’d be happy to share it with you.
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Investment advisory services provided by Lantz Financial, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser.
Non-investment topics discussed are for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax or cybersecurity advice. Individuals should consult with their own legal, tax or cybersecurity expert concerning their own specific situation.
