It’s been said that if crooks would just put the effort into legitimate work that they put into scamming people, they would probably make a great living. As you turn your thoughts to Christmas shopping, baked hams, and time with family and friends, please remember there are those who would love to separate you from your hard-earned money.

Here are just a few of the latest scams  to be aware of.

Grandparents Scam

This is one of the most disturbing scams to come along in years. Basically, you receive a call or text message from someone impersonating a grandchild or loved one asking for money to help with an emergency and providing instructions on where to send the money.

These callers “spoof” the caller ID to make an incoming call appear to be coming from a trusted source. Scammers can now use AI technology to mimic the voices of loved ones and attempt to convince you they’re in distress. They will then try to get you to send money, gift cards, or get credit/debit card information from you.

Financial Institution Impersonation

You’re contacted by someone claiming to be from a financial institution, regarding fraudulent activity on your account and asking you to transfer money or send a payment somewhere else. When in doubt, end all communication with the scammer and call the number listed on the back of your debit or credit card.

Business Email Compromise Scam/Phishing

You receive an email from a vendor requesting you to send money to a different account. The email looks legitimate, but it could be from a fraudster who got access to your vendor’s network. The scammers are very good at manipulating logos and formatting to make the email look legitimate.

Gift Card Scam

You might get a call, text, or email from a scammer that tells you to buy a gift card, like a Google Play™ or Apple® Gift Card, and give them the numbers off the back of the card. No matter what they say, this is a scam.

No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. If you think you may have given a gift card to a scammer—no matter how long ago the scam happened—report it to the gift card company.

Helpful Tips to Keep From Getting Scammed

No financial institution, will ever ask you to make peer-to-peer payments for correcting any fraud activity.
Never send money to anyone who claims your account is compromised or threatens to cut off your services.
When in doubt, end the call.
Report any suspicious activity immediately.