One of the biggest red flags for detecting a possible scam is the sense of urgency. Scammers want you to complete their requests immediately. They don’t want you to have time to think about it, ask anyone else, or research if what they are saying is true or not.
They make it seem like you, a friend, or family member is in immediate danger or is quickly approaching a negative consequence, so you quickly act based on emotion without fully processing the situation. Examples are that your account will be terminated, your family member is in the hospital, your utilities will be turned off in 1 hour, a warrant will be issued for your arrest, etc.
On the other hand, they may prey on your FOMO (fear of missing out) by offering once-in-a-lifetime deals or limited availability to get you to impulse buy.
Always think before you act. Take a minute to pause and process the situation. When in doubt, verify through a known source.
Be sure to check out our Blog or our page on Facebook for fraud tips every Friday. We’ll cover different types of fraud as well as red flags to help you identify when it might be a scam.
Remember, if you have questions about a possible fraud situation or just an uneasy feeling about a phone call, text, email, or transaction, feel free to contact the Fraud Department at (605) 934-2500.