Scammers often use tricks and words to trick people into giving away personal information or money. These tactics are designed to create fear, urgency, or excitement, making it difficult for people to think clearly and rationally. Here are some common phrases scammers use, and if you hear them, you should not respond or engage:
“Congratulations! You’ve won a prize!”
One of the most common scams involves scammers claiming you have won a lottery, prize, or sweepstakes. This can come in the form of a phone call, email, text message, or even a social media post. The thrill of winning can make people drop their guard and follow the scammer’s instructions.
If you didn’t enter a contest, it’s likely a scam. Scammers often ask you to pay a fee or give personal information to claim your prize. This can lead to financial loss or identity theft. Legitimate contests do not require winners to pay fees to claim their prizes.
“We noticed suspicious activity on your account.”
Scammers use this scare tactic to trick you into providing personal information. They might claim to be from your bank or a service provider and say that they have detected unusual activity on your account.
This phrase is designed to create panic and urgency. The scammer’s goal is to get you to reveal sensitive information. This includes your account number, social security number, or password. Always verify such claims by contacting your bank or service provider directly. Use an official contact number that you know.
“This is a limited-time offer, you must act now!”
Scammers create a sense of urgency to pressure their targets into making quick decisions. They don’t give you time to think about it. According to the CFPB, pressuring you to “act now” is a classic warning sign to be aware of.
Scammers know that when people feel pressured, they are more likely to make hasty decisions. This phrase is often used in phishing emails, fake online sales, or investment scams. Always take your time to research and verify offers before committing to anything.
“You owe back taxes. Pay now to avoid arrest.”
Scammers impersonate the IRS or other tax authorities. They will claim that you owe back taxes and demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or legal action.
The IRS or any legitimate government agency will never call you to demand immediate payment over the phone. They will send written notices by mail. If you receive such a call, hang up and contact the IRS directly using their official contact information to verify.
“Your computer has a virus. We need remote access to fix it.”
Tech support scams often involve unsolicited calls or pop-up messages. They claim your computer has a virus. The scammer will offer to fix the problem if you give them remote access to your computer.
Giving remote access to your computer to unknown callers can lead to malware. They could steal your data or cause financial loss. The FBI reported losses of $600 million to tech support scams in 2023. Always contact your computer’s manufacturer or a trusted IT professional for help with technical issues.
“Can you hear me?”
This seemingly innocuous question can be a setup for a scam. When you respond “yes,” the scammer can record your response and use it to authorize charges on your account or agree to services you didn’t request.
Scammers can manipulate recordings of your voice to commit fraud. Always be cautious with unknown callers and avoid answering questions with “yes.” Instead, respond with “Who is this?” or “How can I help you?”.
“We’re calling from [Your Bank/Utility Company]. Please verify your account details.”
Scammers might pretend to be from your bank, utility company, or other important service. They will try to trick you into giving them your account details, like passwords or PINs. Legitimate companies won’t call you for this kind of personal information. Always hang up and call the official number of the bank or company to verify the request.
“Your grandchild is in trouble and needs money immediately.”
This is an emotional scam that targets grandparents. The scammers claim that their grandchild is in trouble and needs money immediately. The FTC reported that impersonation scams resulted in $2.7 billion in losses in 2023. Always check such claims by asking your family members before sending money.
“You have unpaid debts. Pay now to avoid legal action.”
Debt collection scams involve callers claiming you have unpaid debts. They say you must pay immediately to avoid legal action. Legitimate debt collectors will send you a written notice of your debt. It is advisable not to pay over the phone to unverified sources. Always verify the debt with the creditor directly.
“We have a lucrative investment opportunity for you.”
Investment scams try to trick you into giving them your money by promising super high returns with barely any risk. They’ll charm you into investing, but remember, if something sounds amazing and easy with money, it’s probably a trap.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, people lost more than $4.6 billion to these scams in 2023. Before you invest anything, always do your own research and talk to a financial advisor you trust. Don’t give your money to someone who calls you out of the blue trying to sell you an investment.
“There’s a problem with your payment information.”
Scammers pretend to be from big companies like Amazon or Netflix, saying there’s a problem with your credit card. They might lie and say a purchase failed or they’ll cancel your service. But it’s a trick to get your credit card information. Legitimate companies won’t ask for this over the phone or email.
Scammers use this tactic to steal your credit card information or personal details. Always log in to your account directly through the company’s official website to check for any issues. Make sure to contact their customer service using verified contact information.
“You’ve been pre-approved for a loan or credit card.”
This phrase is designed to lure you with the promise of easy money or credit. Scammers might claim you’ve been pre-approved for a loan, credit card, or other financial products. But, you need to give them personal information or pay a fee to get the offer.
Legitimate lenders and credit card companies do not ask for upfront fees prior to pre-approval. They also do not ask for personal information through calls or emails. Scammers use this tactic to steal your identity or money. Therefore, always apply for financial products through known and reputable institutions. Be wary of offers that sound too good to be true.