Archives - Scam Alert


Beware of gift card scams

Some scammers posing as a legitimate company, government agency, senior manager, family member or other trusted source will ask you to purchase gift cards and send them the code in exchange for something. This could be a new job, tax benefits, lotteries or to help a good cause. However, there are no circumstances in which […]

Real police officers don’t communicate by phone, text or chat

A common tactic for bad actors to scam people into giving up valuable personal information is to pose as a police officer when contacting a potential victim. However, just because someone says they’re a law enforcement officer doesn’t mean they are. This goes for all forms of remote communication, including phone calls: If someone claiming […]

Never respond to requests for money

A common scheme on social media and dating sites is to connect with someone online, trick them into thinking the relationship is legitimate, and then attempt to steal money from the victim. This can come in many forms, but often the cybercriminal will make up a story like they’re stuck in another country and can’t […]

Look out for email extortion scams

Phishing is regularly associated with tactics such as a scammer telling someone they’ve won a prize, but it can also take the form of attempted extortion. Be wary of any email threatening to expose something about you unless you quickly submit payment. Simply delete it instead of engaging at all.

Remember phone scams? They still exist

While much of the dangers to your personal information comes through modes of modern tech, the classic phone scams are still popular amongst identity thieves and scammers. Be wary about giving out your personal information over the phone. Many businesses do legitimately use conventional phone calls to contact customers, but so do scammers. That said, […]

If making a donation online, make sure the source is legitimate

Cybercriminals are beginning to take advantage of natural disasters, relief efforts and other events that may spur a lot of charitable donations. Scammers hoping to capitalize on hurricane disaster relief, for example, might set up a false donation site to fool unwitting people. By soliciting donations in the name of a reputable cause, scammers hide […]