Identity Document Scams
If you find yourself with a phone call from someone claiming to be a government official, an attorney, or your “new” best friend, it's very likely that they're trying to steal your identity. Identity document scams are on the rise, and thieves have so many new ways to steal your identity that we can't keep track of them all!
Learn about what these types of scams are and how you can protect yourself from being hacked. The information in this post may save you from becoming the next victim.
Identity Document Scams
Identity document scams are those in which the identity thief poses as someone who needs your identity in order to obtain your money, government benefits, or other goods. Identity document scams typically come via telephone and Internet, using popups from email or online advertisements and through social media channels.
Here are some examples of common identity document scams:
The New Best Friend Scam. In this scam, the caller convinces you that you've won a lottery prize or gift card from a well-known retailer — Walmart, Target, etc. — but you must pay taxes or insurance on the gift before you can have access to it. The thief may try to create a sense of urgency, needing this done today or immediately before you receive the money!
In this scam, the caller convinces you that you've won a lottery prize or gift card from a well-known retailer — Walmart, Target, etc. — but you must pay taxes or insurance on the gift before you can have access to it. The thief may try to create a sense of urgency, needing this done today or immediately before you receive the money!
The Grandparent Scam . Every family has at least one grandparent that doesn't like using technology and is more susceptible to being taken advantage of by thieves. Your grandparent may receive a call from someone claiming to be you (or one of your siblings). They say that you've been in some kind of accident and need your grandparent to wire them money for medical or legal expenses.
. Every family has at least one grandparent that doesn't like using technology and is more susceptible to being taken advantage of by thieves. Your grandparent may receive a call from someone claiming to be you (or one of your siblings). They say that you've been in some kind of accident and need your grandparent to wire them money for medical or legal expenses.
The Inmate Scam . Scammers often claim to be members of the U.S. Prison System who have been arrested and need access to your identity in order to get bailed out of jail.
. Scammers often claim to be members of the U.S. Prison System who have been arrested and need access to your identity in order to get bailed out of jail.
The Sibling Scam . Thieves claim that a relative is in a bad situation and needs help accessing his or her assets. Some of the scams they can plant include having been arrested or hospitalized, being the victim of a crime, and losing custody of one's kids.
. Thieves claim that a relative is in a bad situation and needs help accessing his or her assets. Some of the scams they can plant include having been arrested or hospitalized, being the victim of a crime, and losing custody of one's kids.
The "Workmate" Scam . This is a popular scam where criminals call your coworkers and ask them to wire money to relatives overseas in exchange for "safer" investment opportunities. For example, they may say they've been arrested in order to obtain access to your account information.
. This is a popular scam where criminals call your coworkers and ask them to wire money to relatives overseas in exchange for "safer" investment opportunities. For example, they may say they've been arrested in order to obtain access to your account information.
The "Employment" Scam . In this scam, the victim is contacted by a stranger claiming to be an employer and needing access to your personal information in order to accept a job offer. If you want the job, you must give them your banking information.
. In this scam, the victim is contacted by a stranger claiming to be an employer and needing access to your personal information in order to accept a job offer. If you want the job, you must give them your banking information.
The "Bank Transfer" Scam . You possibly get a call from someone either at work or outside of work who claims that there's been trouble processing one of your recent transactions. In order to fix the problem, you must give them your banking information so they can take care of the situation.
. You possibly get a call from someone either at work or outside of work who claims that there's been trouble processing one of your recent transactions. In order to fix the problem, you must give them your banking information so they can take care of the situation.
The "Storage Unit" Scam . You may be contacted by a stranger claiming to be a storage facility owner and needing access to your storage unit's access codes in order for you to retrieve your belongings and move out.
. You may be contacted by a stranger claiming to be a storage facility owner and needing access to your storage unit's access codes in order for you to retrieve your belongings and move out.
The "Illness" Scam. Like the Grandparent Scam described above, this scam claims that a family member is ill or has been in an accident and needs you to wire money overseas. The crooks may say they're calling from the hospital or their embassy, trying to make the scam sound more authentic than it is.
Identity Theft Protection for Your Family
It's important to keep an eye out for any of the above scams. The best way to protect your family from becoming the victim of identity theft is to do what you can to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some things you can do:
Make sure all financial information is deleted after use. Don't print receipts or save credit card numbers or bank account information. Only use secure websites (look for encryption symbols) when ordering online, and delete temporary cookies as well as your browser history daily.
Don't print receipts or save credit card numbers or bank account information.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, it's easy for thieves to get access to your personal information. That having been said, it's just as easy for you to protect yourself from becoming the victim of identity theft. You must do what you can to protect your family from falling victim as well.
Don't wait until after a theft has already occurred before taking action. If a family member becomes counterfeit money victim, be sure that everyone else in the family is financially protected as well so that their accounts don't get drained of money and their identities stolen in the process.
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Identity Document Scams