COMMON PHONE SCAMS
- Sweepstakes & Lottery
- Imposter Bank, business, government grant, etc.
- Ramance/Friendship
- Tech Support
- Grandparent or Family Member Crisis
AVOIDING PHONE SCAMS
- Do not answer “unknown caller”
- Don’t trust caller ID (spoofing)
- Hang up on caller/recordingasking you
- to press a button to stop calls
- Hang up if feeling pressured, scared,
- or unsure
- Do not respond to any questions,
- especially do not answer yes to any
- question
- Do not give out personal information
COMMON TEXT SCAMS
- Missed delivery notifications
- “Is this you?” messages
- Bank account closing
- Credit card locked
- IRS/Government agency question
- Problem with subscription payment
- Fake fraud alert (purchase you didn’t make)
AVOIDING TEXT SCAMS
- DO NOT RESPOND
- DO NOT CLICK
- DO NOT ANSWER
- DO NOT SEND “STOP”
- Never click on links!
- Concerned? Call agency on a REAL VERIFIED number
MEDICARE SCAMS
5 WARNING SIGNS OF MEDICARE SCAMS
REMEMBER…MEDICARE WILL NEVER
- Call you unexpectedly
- Ask for personal information
- Ask for payment to get a new card
- Threaten to cancel your benefits
- Ask for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, or mailed cash
- Tell you not to tell anyone, that it is a secret
WHEN ANSWERING THE PHONE PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES
STOP!
- Never give Medicare, Social Security, or banking information to an unexpected Caller. HANG UP!
- If someone calls you and makes you suspicious just hang up. It’s okay! VERIFY!
- Call the organization yourself using a number thar you know is real—like the one on your Medicare card or a statement
PAYMENT PREVENTION TIPS
1. AVOID DEBIT CARDS! Credit cards are recommended
2. Do not use gift cards, crypto currency, or wire transfers
3. Unless you know the vendor,exercise caution and pay with Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, etc.
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
877-5-NO-SCAM (566-7226)
Medicare
800-633-4227
Social Security
800-772-1213
Report Fraud
