Fake jobs, debt relief schemes and lottery lies…oh my! Read on to keep up to date on the latest scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Scammers are hijacking job ads. Here’s how to spot the fakes.

Scammers are taking outdated ads from real employers, changing them, and posting them on employment websites and career-oriented platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn. The modified ads seem to be real job offers with legitimate companies. They’re not. In fact, their goal is to trick you into sharing personal information. So how do you know if you’re dealing with a scammer? Read on

Student loan debt relief schemes

Paying off student loans can feel like a big undertaking, especially since it’ll take most people years to see a zero balance. When debt relief companies call promising quick loan forgiveness, you may be tempted to hear them out—but don’t. These scammers claim they’ll lighten your load (for a fee)—but their schemes often leave you deeper in the hole. Read on

Are you really the lucky winner? Spot the prize scams

Say you hear or read the words: “You’ve won!” What will you do with your winnings? Who wouldn’t be excited to win a prize, sweepstakes, or lottery? But…did you actually win? And how do you know? Sweepstakes, prize, and lottery frauds are among the top scams people report to the FTC. These scams usually start with a call or message that says you’re a winner. (A lie.) They say to get the so-called prize you have to send money or click somewhere to give your information. Don’t. The most recent FTC data shows people reported losing $301 million to this type of fraud. That’s an average loss of $907 per person. Read on

Is it really the IRS?

The “IRS” is on the phone. They’re saying you owe back taxes and need to pay immediately using cryptocurrency, or you’ll be arrested. You reach for your wallet but then think—WAIT—is this really the IRS? Or is it someone impersonating the IRS? According to the latest FTC data, impersonation scams were the top reported scam in 2022. The FTC got more than 700,000 reports about impersonation scams, with one in five including loss of money. Read on

Why do consumers continue to fall victim to these scams and schemes? Because the fraudsters work 24/7 to find an opportunity or moment of weakness. Stay alert, slow down, and always triple check before sending money or providing personal information to people you barely know.