02-February -2022-Draft 14

SECURITY

COMMUNITY SAFETY WHAT IS A SCAM?

A scam is a dishonest or fraudulent act that attempts to take money or something of value from consumers. Scams can be challenging to recognize, and you can look for clues to avoid scams. Please read the following prevention tips to help you become an alert consumer and help to avoid fraud: Know the company or person you are dealing with

Stay safe online Never send credit card numbers or your social security number via email. It’s not secure. If you are providing financial or sensitive information on awebsite, thewebsite address in the browser should change from “HTTP” to “HTTPS” or “SHTTP.” Your browser may also show that the information is being encrypted or scrambled, so no one who might intercept it can read it. Be cautious about unsolicited emails Be wary of emails that ask for money. If you are unfamiliar with the organization and do not want to receive future emails, request to be removed from the distribution or click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of some emails. Resist pressure Legitimate companies and charities will be happy to give you time to decide on the offer. However, it’s probably a scam if they demand that you act immediately or won’t take “No” for an answer. Some scammers may also instruct you to pay off a loan immediately, or damaging consequences may occur; always take time to look into who is requesting the money before you pay up.

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check that’s it’s a reputable person or company. If you aren’t sure, check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Pay the safest way Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or misrepresent the offer. If you feel you paid too much for something, you can dispute the payment amount. Federal law limits your liability to $50, and most credit card issuers will remove them entirely if you report the problem promptly. Guard your personal information Scammers pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Do not provide any credit card or bank account information unless you know what the charge or service you are getting. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you apply for credit.

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February 2022