updated May 4, 2025
Listen or read the news, and you will notice that money gets people into trouble; or people get into trouble because of money.
People misuse money themselves, or trick or force someone else into making bad money decisions.
Recognize the four basic signs of a scam:
- Scammers pretend to be from a familiar organization or agency, like the Social Security Administration. They may email attachments with official-looking logos, seals, signatures, or pictures of employee credentials.
- Scammers mention a problem or a prize. They may say your Social Security number was involved in a crime or ask for personal information to process a benefit increase.
- Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They may threaten you with arrest or legal action.
- Scammers tell you to pay using a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire or money transfer, or by mailing cash. They may also tell you to transfer your money to a “safe” account.
What to do when you suspect a scam
Ignore scammers and report criminal behavior. Report Social Security-related scams to the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
If you ever question whether a message or email is legit, call the business or go to its validated website. Even then, don’t release your personal information until you are absolutely sure.
Report fraud, scams, and bad business practices here
Mark scam emails and texts as “junk” and delete. If options to report are offered by your phone carrier or email provider, follow those instructions.
What motivates scammers?
Scammers prey on honest people’s needs, emotions, trust, fear, and misinformation.
Fraud, cheating, stealing, scamming, hacking, counterfeiting, embezzlement, blackmail- people are endlessly creative when using and abusing money.
The Bible connects the desire for or love of money with evil.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. “
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. “
1 Timothy 6:6-10, NIV
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Advice from the Federal Trade Commission
Spot a scam
- Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
- Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.
- Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.
- Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.
Avoid a scam
- Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect.
- Block unwanted calls and text messages.
- Resist the pressure to act immediately.
- Know how scammers tell you to pay.
- Stop and talk to someone you trust.
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