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bbb scam alert
Impersonation is a common tactic used by scammers, and impostor scams can take many different forms. BBB has tips to help you identify and avoid impostor scams.
They may pose as a friend, family member, government worker, or a familiar company.
According to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, impersonation is a very common tactic used by scammers. Impostor scams come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have the same intent: to trick you out of your money and/or personal information.
Impostors who want to steal your money or personal information will try to do this through a phone call, text message, or email. The phone calls may appear to be from a local number, text messages may appear to be from real companies, and emails may come from convincing email addresses with entirely believable logos.
Below are descriptions of some of the most common impostor scams.
Utility company impostors typically call or knock on your door, claiming to be representatives from the local water, electric, or gas company. In the most common scenario, the fraudster will say a payment is overdue, and the utility will be shut off if you don’t pay immediately.
You receive a text message allegedly from a bank, alerting you of fraudulent activity on your account. You may or may not have an account at that bank. The con artists might even know your account number. They use a variety of messages and techniques, but the desired outcome is the same. They want you to give them information, the key to your money.
There are many ways to tell if a call about tax debt is a fraudulent IRS call. According to the IRS, people with overdue taxes will always receive multiple contacts, including letters and phone calls, from the IRS first. The IRS will also notify taxpayers before sending their accounts to a private collection agency. When in doubt, contact the IRS to confirm any contact you receive is legitimate.
Also called the grandparent scam, this scheme involves the impersonation of a friend or family member in a fabricated urgent or dire situation. Emergency calls prey on a person’s kindness and willingness to help. Con artists impersonate their targets’ loved ones, make up an urgent situation, and plead for help and money. Thanks to social media sites, these people can offer plausible stories and incorporate nicknames and real travel plans to convince their targets.
This is a version of an emergency scam. However, the scammers ask for a small favor instead of describing a major crisis. It can be easy to fall for these cons because the stories are believable, and the money amounts are much lower. For example, in this scam, a "friend" needs money for groceries after misplacing their wallet. Just like with an emergency scam, always check directly with your friend before sending any cash.
These favor scams can also come in the form of a fellow employee or manager at your place of work. After lengthy conversations in an attempt to gain your trust, the scammer will then ask for a "favor" that may include handing over personal information or purchasing gift cards.
A tech support rep calls you at home and offers to fix a computer bug you haven’t even noticed, or a popup warning appears on your screen instructing you to dial a number for help. In this con, scammers pose as tech support employees of well-known computer companies and hassle victims into paying for their “support.”
You message or tag a business on social media regarding a recent purchase or transaction, and you receive a reply from what appears to be a customer service representative from the business. They may reply in the thread, pretending to be the business, or ask you to direct message them to resolve the issue. If you see that the account was recently created, has spelling errors, and the social media handle doesn't look legitimate, do not message the account or provide personal or financial information.
Many of these scams target small businesses. Scammers call, text, or email to collect unpaid “dues,” promise to lower your credit card balances, or email dangerous links or attachments they claim are related to “complaints." While a BBB office may contact a business for various reasons, you should never give personal or financial information over the phone during an unsolicited call from someone you do not know. End the call or close the email, and call the BBB office at the number listed in the BBB.org Directory.
Urgency
In most versions of impostor scams, there is an urgency for you to act now. Whether it's your utilities being shut off, your family member in danger, or your taxes not being filed on time, the impostor will create a scenario that may convince you to respond and follow their instructions.
Lookalike websites, logos, and more
Impostors can create fake websites that look real, with the real company's logo and images and a similar URL. Same goes for social media accounts, letters, phone calls and texts. If something looks off, think twice before responding or acting.
Unsolicited communication and demands for payment
If anyone contacts you and demands payment, take that as a red flag. Get familiar with how your bank, your utility company, government agencies, and your most-shopped retail stores communicate with you. Most times, these entities will not text you or call you for payment.
Stay calm. If you receive any of these impostor calls, resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is or how threatening or intimidating the caller sounds.
Don't reply directly. Don’t respond to the call, text, or email. Instead, call the company or person directly to verify the message that was sent or the phone call received.
Verify the contact information. Go to the business's website and find the contact information so you can be sure you are dealing with the actual company.
Go to the source or get help. When in doubt, call a friend, loved one, or your local BBB to ask for a second opinion. Regardless of what is said in the phone conversation, tell someone.
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