Beware of Rising Imposter Scams: 10 Warning Signs to Know So You Can Stay Safe

Lately, there’s been a significant uptick in imposter scams, where a scammer pretends to be someone you trust. Their goal? To trick you into giving them your personal information or access to your money. Since some imposter scams may be difficult to detect, we’ve pulled together some facts to help you avoid becoming a victim.

What Is an Imposter Scam?

A scammer—with a goal of identity theft or conning victims out of their money—takes advantage of a target by posing as a family member, friend, business or organization the victim trusts (like a bank, government agency or charity).

How Do Imposter Scams Work?

These criminals can be very persuasive, and some even use artificial intelligence to sound or look like those they’re impersonating. Here are some of the ways they’ll try to trick you.

• They’ll contact you through a phone call, email, text message or social media message.
  
• They might even spoof the email or phone number of the person or organization they’re impersonating, so it appears they’re really contacting you.
• They may use deepfake technology to create voice recordings or videos of someone you know.
• They might use the real name and contact info of authority figures (like law enforcement) or celebrities.
• They may also use phishing techniques by creating logos and fake websites that look almost like the real thing.

Are There Common Imposter Scams?

Scammers are constantly upping their game and getting more creative. But, they also will use some of their tried and true tricks—because they work. You’re probably already familiar with scammers posing as “tech support.” Here are a few others.

How Can You Avoid Imposter Scams and Protect Yourself?

Learning a few warning signs can help you avoid becoming a victim. Here are 10 things you need to know.

1. Don’t send money to people you don’t know: If you get an unusual request for any reason, you can always verify its legitimacy by contacting the person or organization directly.
2. Don’t give access to your computer to people you don’t know: If you get this kind of request, hang up immediately. You can always call your computer brand’s or provider’s (e.g., internet) tech support line if you’re concerned the problem could be real.
3. Don’t rely on caller ID: Hang up, look up the contact info yourself, then call back to verify a request is legitimate. Never call phone numbers from your caller ID log or numbers left in voicemails.
4. Don’t click on links in unsolicited messages: Always be cautious of links and downloadable files in unexpected texts and emails. It’s likely they’ll contain malware or take you to a phishing website. Navy Federal won’t email you links to reset your password unless you’ve requested it.
5. Do look for small mistakes: Scammers often make grammar and spelling mistakes when impersonating others. Double-check email addresses, phone numbers and messages to catch small errors or unnatural wording. Keep in mind that credit and debit cards, insurance cards and billing statements are the best sources for correct phone numbers and email addresses.
6. Do watch for strange payment options: If someone asks you to pay them via wire transfer, gift card, Venmo®, Zelle ® or even cryptocurrency, you should know that these payment options are very difficult to track and reverse. They’re almost always a scam.
7. Do be wary of 10-digit numbers: Most financial institutions like Navy Federal will text you using a 5- or 6-digit “short code.” We’ll never text you from a 10-digit number.
8. Do be cautious about sharing banking or personal info: Legitimate organizations won’t ask for sensitive information online or through text or email. Navy Federal will never ask you to provide your mobile or online banking sign-in information, nor will we ask for your challenge question and answer through an unexpected phone call, email or text.
9. Do resist the pressure to act quickly: Fraudsters put pressure on victims to act quickly, so they don’t have time to think logically. Legitimate businesses, government agencies and your financial institution will never pressure you to make a decision or provide information immediately.
10. Do verify what you’re being told: Be skeptical of unexpected calls, emails or messages asking for sensitive information. Trust your instincts and take precautions to ensure you’re protected. You can stay one step ahead of scammers by always verifying what you’re being told—even if it means hanging up or ignoring a message until you’re sure. 

What Can You Do to Help?

You can help catch these criminals and prevent others from becoming victims by reporting suspected scams. If you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by visiting ftc.gov/complaint or calling 1-877-382-4357. You’ll need the following information:

• The date and time of the call
• The person and/or agency name the scammer used
• What they wanted you to do, pay or share, including dollar amounts
• The phone number that showed up on your caller ID

If you receive any suspicious phone calls, text or social media messages or emails from someone claiming to be Navy Federal, report it to us right away through our official channels.

• Email: Forward the message to phishalert@navyfederal.org with the original subject line and include the name of your Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the body.
• Phone or text: Send an email to reportabuse@navyfederal.org with the time and date of the call or text, the number it originated from and what was requested.
• Social media: Send an email to reportabuse@navyfederal.org with the content of the message you received along with the social media account where it originated.

Together, We Can Defeat the Scammers

Navy Federal has a number of protective measures in place, like 24/7 account monitoring and our Zero Liability policy. You can protect your identity and assets by staying informed about scam tactics and having a healthy dose of skepticism. Want to know more about digital security and extra measures you can take to stay protected? Visit our Security Center.