Scammers will use any possible opportunity to take advantage of others. Unfortunately, hardships and devastating news like the events in Ukraine provide the perfect breeding ground for schemes. Use extra caution for any requests regarding the following themes:
Types of Scams:
- Help, a loved one is stuck here: Often fraudsters will pretend to be a loved one in jail or injured at a hospital. With the media focus overseas, you will now see pleas from people pretending to be trapped in another country needing your dollars to travel; or U.S. soldiers that have been cut-off. It’s heart-wrenching to think about. It’s also most likely a scam.
- Hold my funds: Similar to the last, fraudsters will pretend that they are stuck in a dire situation or location that might gain your sympathy. Perpetrators may ask you to hold funds until a safe time to retrieve them. Then they will request your bank account information or online banking credentials to wire you the funds but instead, they gain access to wipe out your savings.
- Cash a Check: For a litany of reasons a scammer may have a check that they are “unable to cash” and they will need you to do it for them because you’re local or American, or you have a bank account or valid ID. They’ll ask you to withdraw funds for them in exchange for the signed check. The only hiccup is that the check is no good. Not only will you be out the funds, but you could also be responsible for the consequences of the bad check.
- We need your support now more than ever: Humanitarianism is one of the things that make our world a better place. So many good-hearted people are eager to help any way they can, which is often by sending money. It’s sickening that phony non-profits exist but they do, for the specific purpose of collecting your generous donation while you’re eager to give it.
Don’t stop at this list. Scammers are getting more clever all the time, even cryptocurrency and blockchain are used in the latest trends.
Things You Can Do:
- Anticipate it. Fraud and scams aren’t going away any time soon. Expect the frequency of it to rise. Look for it in your email, texts, mail, by phone, social media, and through any other channel that you receive communication.
- Think Twice. If something seems suspicious it probably is. Do not click on links from people you don’t know. Many hackers can make their emails look like they’re coming from legitimate domains and companies.
Even if it’s a company you recognize, there’s a good chance, you didn’t sign up for the notice. If you want to know if it’s legit, call the number, or use your app, for the company that you already know to confirm and/or report it.
- Do your research: Whether or not it’s Ukraine-related if you ever want to donate to a reputable cause, deal directly with a well-known organization, like redcross.org, or search for the non-profit you already know by name.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and each state (Virginia) offer charitable databases that you can search for registered non-profits.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also recommends looking for your charity on BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, or Candid to verify a charity's status. They’ve also put together these tips “Before Giving to a Charity” which includes questions you may want to ask, and protocols that real charities must follow.
- Report It:
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