Every day, your BBB® provides information to consumers on how to avoid being scammed. On blog posts like this one, we’ll often post tips to help you avoid a specific type of scam we’re hearing about. Recently, we learned that the Federal Trade Commission have combined their common tips and tricks into a list of the “10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud.”  Here are a few of the tips we most often give out to callers that also appear on their list.

Spot imposters. Those perpetrating fraud often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government agency or official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business with. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request. Even if the request may be expected, consider review the request closely to ensure you are sending payment to the right location.

Don’t believe your caller ID. Scammers may be using a technique called “spoofing” which allows the scammer to have your caller ID say what they want it to say, i.e. a caller attempting to collect a debt as the IRS may have the caller ID say “IRS” and a phone number that appears to be from the Washington, D.C. area.  If someone calls asking for money or personal information, don’t provide it.  If you think their request might be genuine, call back to a number you know is reliable.

Don’t pay upfront for a promise. A caller might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job.  They might even say you’ve won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or fees. If you provide the money, often times, the person will take the money and disappear.

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