Security Watch
Stay Informed. Stay Protected.
Knowledge is your best defense. Stay alert to these common scams and learn how to outsmart the fraudsters at their own game.
Trending Scam
Parking Lot Scams
It can happen anywhere, but often it’s in parking lots near banks or retail locations. A stranger approaches you saying they have an emergency and asks to use your phone. Be wary. It could be a parking lot scam. Remind yourself that once a scammer has control of your unlocked phone, they can open payment apps to access your personal details or transfer money to themselves.
There are several variations of parking lot scams. For example, scammers may also claim you damaged their property and demand cash or your personal information. But once they have the information, they can use it to apply for loans in your name. Another variation is a stranger asks for donations or offers jewelry or other merchandise—just say no. The bottom line: never share personal or account information with strangers, don’t hand over your phone and if necessary, leave the area. Think you’ve been duped or suspect potential fraud? Report it right away.
Romance Scams
Romance scammers will lure you into a fake online relationship to gain your trust and steal your personal information or money. Once trust is established, they’ll take advantage and may ask for money, gift cards or sensitive details. Use these essential tips to guard your heart and money from fraudsters.
Tech Support Scams
You get a call, text, email or pop-up warning that your device is infected or your account has a serious problem. Don’t respond—it’s a scam! Never give in to pressure to give a stranger remote access or send them money. They can steal personal data, install malware or lock you out of your system. Check out these tips on how to spot, avoid and report tech scams.
Social Media Scams
Criminals often hide behind fake profiles or pose as trusted social media connections to get access to your money and personal or financial info. Don’t miss these common social media scams for spotting their red flags and protecting yourself.
Imposter Scams
These swindlers pretend to be someone you trust—like an official, employer or Facebook group—to trick you into sharing personal info or sending money. Get familiar with the 10 most common imposter scams.
Phone Scams and Vishing
You get a call, text or email claiming to be from your bank, the government or a well-known company. What should you do next? Find out what steps you can take to safeguard your identity.
Zelle®Footnote [1] Scams
Because Zelle® transactions are hard to reverse, scammers are using it more often to steal money. Stay alert and look out for these 6 common traps.
Tax Scams
Scammers aren’t just calling to say you owe taxes these days—they’ve expanded their bag of tricks. Learn the warning signs and effective strategies to outsmart them.
Unpaid Toll Balance Scam
Have you gotten a text or email out of the blue saying you owe money for an unpaid toll, and if you don’t pay up right now, you’ll face a huge fine or even lose your license? Major red flag! Check out how to keep yourself safe from this trending scam.
Military Community Scams
Scammers are really targeting Servicemembers, hitting them up with fake government reps, bogus financial “advisors” and sketchy housing offers. There are so many more. Don’t let these fraudsters play you—get the inside scoop on their most common tricks.
What to Do If You Suspect Fraud
If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud or attempted fraud, it’s important to act quickly. Our dedicated fraud response professionals are ready to support you and help you navigate the recovery process. Visit our Report Fraud page for instructions on what to do next.
Disclosures
Zelle® and the Zelle®-related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.
↵This content is intended to provide general information and shouldn't be considered legal, tax or financial advice. It's always a good idea to consult a professional legal, tax or financial advisor for specific information on how certain laws apply to your situation and about your individual financial situation.