Stay Informed & Protect Yourself
From Future Scams

Someone offers a job with great pay for very little work, often by text or social media. Before you start, they ask you to pay for training or equipment, or to deposit a check and send part of it back. A real employer never asks you to pay them before you start working.

You get a call, text, or letter claiming to be from immigration, the IRS, or another agency. It says you owe a fee or risk losing your status unless you pay right away, often by gift card or wire transfer. Government agencies contact you by official mail first, and they never demand gift cards.

You receive calls, texts, or voicemails from someone claiming to be from a bank, insurance company, utility provider, or tech support team. They may say you applied for a loan, have an account problem, or have a security issue. They pressure you to confirm personal information, banking details, or payment information immediately. Legitimate companies never ask for sensitive information through unsolicited calls or texts.

You're buying or selling something online — a car, an apartment, or furniture. The other person pushes you to pay outside the platform, asks for a deposit before you see it in person, or sends a check for more than the price and asks you to refund the difference. Never pay for something you haven't seen in person.