How it plays out:The “Secret Sister” gift exchange seems like a fun way to spread cheer within the social media-verse, but it’s actually an illegal pyramid scheme, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Akin to old-timey chain letters, the Secret Sister gift exchange asks participants to buy a gift of at least $10
ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT SCAMS – TEXTScammers are texting taxpayers and trying to trick them into disclosing bank account information or other personal identifying information under the guise of receiving an Economic Impact Payment. The scam text message states: “You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept
Uh oh — you’ve been hacked! Finding out someone has cracked open your accounts and helped themselves to your information can be alarming, but there are ways to mitigate the damage while jump-starting your recovery process. Here are five steps to take after being hacked: Step 1: Assess the damage First, determine the damage. Unfortunately, one
Don’t be the next victim of a debt-collection scam! Here’s all you need to know about these scams: HOW THE SCAMS PLAY OUT In a debt-collection scam, a caller claiming to represent a debt-collection agency demands immediate payment for an alleged outstanding debt. The caller insists on specific means of payment and may threaten to
Everyone loves a surprise package, and scammers are taking the excitement out of that experience by using bogus packages as a cover for a nefarious scam that tricks victims into sharing personal information. Here’s all you need to know about the pending package scam: How the scam plays outIn the pending package scam, the victim
Payment apps allow users to send payments to almost anyone, making it easy to split the tab at a shared meal, buy a present for a mutual friend, and quickly pay back a small loan. Unfortunately, though, scammers are using these apps to cheat people out of their money. Here’s all you need to know
Fake Grant ScamsScammers are hacking into people’s Facebook accounts and are messaging their friends and family claiming they are eligible for free grants. The message may come from a newly-acquired friend, a family member, or even a long-time friend, and details information on free grant money from the government. The message may reference others, specifically those already
With unemployment skyrocketing due to the pandemic, scammers are trolling for your personal information to steal your benefits and identity. Learn how to spot them and how to stay safe! UNEMPLOYMENT SCAMSScammers file unemployment claims in someone else’s name to collect benefits, or they claim to be employed at businesses where they have never held
Scammers always try to con victims out of their information and money. They also tend to prey on the most susceptible victims, including those who are down on their luck or are exceptionally naïve and trusting. DoverPhila Federal Credit Union’s biggest priority is your financial wellness, and that includes keeping you and your money safe.
Payday loan scams may seem like old news, but they’re more common than ever. In these scams, a “representative” of a collection agency who claims to be acting on behalf of a loan company tells victims they must pay their outstanding balance on a payday loan. Unfortunately, the caller is a scammer trying to rip
The arrival of warm weather and the deep house cleaning it inspires means more people are selling their old furniture, devices, sports equipment, and clothing. That’s why the amount of items like these on sites like Craigslist swells considerably during this season. There are wonderful treasures to be found, if you have the time and
Is your computer on the brink? Careful who you contact to fix it! That’s because the FTC is warning of a surge in tech support scams, many of which can be difficult to spot. In a recent widespread scam, a company that called itself Elite IT Partners, Inc., purchased keywords on Google so they showed
The mad holiday rush may be over, but scammers aren’t slowing down. The post-holiday weeks bring an increase in scams that, unfortunately, are quite believable during this time of year. Don’t be the victim of a post-holiday scam! Read on to learn about the common ways fraudsters seek to dupe consumers after the holidays: Gift-picking. You
