Imposter Scams
Fraudsters will often pose as someone you know or trust - such as a family member, friend, well-known company, financial institution or government official - to try to trick you into sending them your money or personal information. For example, a number of Ohioans have reported receiving text messages from the Ohio Turnpike demanding payment for an unpaid toll. These text messages were fake, but many people clicked on the fake link or even made a payment, because they were threatened with penalties or legal action if they didn't.
If you receive a message or request that you're unsure about, find a verified phone number from another source for the person, entity, or company and ask if the communication is legitimate. If it's not, ignore the message and consider reporting the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
Investment Scams
Investment fraud is one of the fastest-growing categories of fraud, leading to $5.7 billion in losses for American consumers in 2024. Investment fraud often includes promises of major returns on investment with little to no effort on your part and pressure tactics to make you invest your hard-earned money quickly without giving you time to think about it.
Be wary of financial promises that seem too good to be true and consult a financial advisor before making any major investment decisions that could put your money at risk.
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Lottery/Sweepstakes Scams
Scammers often try to get victims to share their personal financial information by claiming they've won a lottery or a sweepstake. These scammers promise big payouts if you share your personal financial information so they can deposit the funds into your account. Instead, they turn around and use your financial information to steal funds or steal your identity.
It's important to remember that you can't win a lottery or sweepstakes you never entered. If someone is contacting you with promises of free money for nothing in return, it's probably a scam.
Online Romance Scams
Fraudsters are creating fake profiles to try and trick victims into romantic relationships and then scam them out of their hard-earned money. Scammers will often use fake photos or appeal to the victim's emotions to make them fall in love and then pretend to need money quickly for emergencies or to travel to visit their victims.
Online romance scams are deceptive and can have devastating consequences, but by understanding that genuine relationships don't involve requests for financial assistance from online friends can help reduce the risk of falling victim. Maintain a healthy level of skepticism when interacting with individuals online and remember, it's okay to question anything that seems too good to be true or raises doubts.
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