port of harlem magazine
 
Khismet Wearable Art, Millee Spears
 
Beware: Scams Are on the Rise
 
Apr 18 – May 01, 2024
 
Money

police search laptop



More than $10 billion was lost to fraud in 2023 by American consumers. The most commonly reported scam was imposter fraud, in which a thief poses as your bank, financial institution, or a government agency to steal your money or identifiable information. Nearly $2.7 billion was reported stolen in 2023 from imposter scams alone.1 Be aware, this type of fraud is on the rise and the impact can be devastating.

Here’s how the imposter scam may play out: Your phone rings. Caller ID shows that it’s your financial institution on the other end. But it’s not them—it’s a scammer. The fraudsters tell you they have seen fraudulent activity in your account and you need to take action right away.

They tell you that in order to verify your identity, they will send a code for you to read to them. It is actually a code to reset your password so they can steal all your money. Do not ever read or otherwise give a code to anyone unless you have called them on the bank’s or financial institution's official number.

To protect your money and your identity, remember these critical guidelines:

If something seems fishy, hit the brakes. Wait until your emotions have settled and research what's going on. Fraudsters use tight deadlines to try to force you into a rash decision. And remember that requests for payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or bank wires are red flags for scams. Here are 5 other common financial scams to avoid—and what to do if you think you're a victim of them.

Read More
 
 
Return to this issue's Main Page
 
 
sign up

follow us on
facebook instagram twitter youtube
Advertisers | Contact Us | Events | Links | Media Kit | Our Company | Payments Pier
 
Press Room | Print Cover Stories Archives | Electronic Issues and Talk Radio Archives | Writer's Guidelines