Nothing scares people more than owing money to the government. That’s why government imposter scams are the most common fraud schemes around. Under this type of scheme, scammers text message, call and email their victims pretending to be from Social Security, the IRS or Medicare and threaten arrest, deportation and the loss of benefits if you don’t pay a fine immediately.

A popular confidence scam is called the “Grandparent Scam.” Grandparents always want to take care of their grandchildren, and that makes this scam especially dangerous. Imposters call their victims and ask, “Hi grandpa/grandma, do you know who this is?” When the victim says their grandchild’s name, the imposter says, “Yes,” and then asks for money for something like car repairs or groceries.

With this scam, the imposters ask for money in the form of a gift card or wire transfer to keep their activities and identity untraceable.

The computer virus scam is malware that delivers a pop-up message on a computer stating the computer is infected with a virus and needs to be fixed. The message provides a phone number, and when called, the scammer requests a fee to fix the computer.

Those who don’t know much about their computers are easy targets, so when they see a message pop up saying their computer is infected with a virus, they’re going to be concerned.

You should never have to pay a fee to collect a legitimate prize, but that’s how lottery scams work. The victim is informed they’ve won a cash prize but must pay a fee to receive the money.

After the victim pays the fee, the scammer deposits a fake check into their bank account, but after a couple of days, it bounces.

Another type of fraud to watch out for is investment fraud. Under this type of scheme, the criminal contacts the victim with what seems like a great investment opportunity that speaks to them through a common interest like a political affiliation, religion or ethnicity. The fraudster will present the opportunity as either low-risk or no-risk, and the promised returns are too good to be true.

With a non-payment fraud scheme, the victim ships an item that is never paid for. In a non-delivery fraud scheme, the victim pays for something that is never shipped. Fraudsters used this scheme extensively to take advantage of older Americans during the pandemic, when many people needed to buy necessities online.

Many fraudulent ecommerce websites appear professional and legitimate but buying from an unknown website is risky.

Fraudulent products have been around for a long time. Anytime a product promises to be revolutionary, or a “breakthrough” in an industry, that should raise flags of caution.

Many fraudulent products are exposed quickly when people start posting complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) website. If a product or company has multiple complaints and fraud reports filed with the BBB, it’s more than likely a scam.

1. Know how to spot an online scam

To avoid becoming a victim, it’s critical to know how to spot one of these online scams. The problem is that while some online scams are obvious, others are sophisticated and well-disguised. For example, some online scams seem like legitimate opportunities from a mailing list and others appear to come from friends.

2. Be suspicious of emails asking for money

If someone you know sends you an email or any text-based communication asking for money, don’t click any links and don’t send any money. Immediately contact the person and ask if they sent you an email asking for your financial support. If the request isn’t legitimate, delete the email or report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

3. Don’t be afraid to say “no”

Scammers will prey on your desire to help others, so it’s important to learn how to say “no” even when your heart wants to say “yes.” For example, if you get an email from someone asking for financial help to cover expensive medical treatment for a child, you might naturally want to help. However, scammers are counting on your desire to help in order to cheat you out of your money.

Don’t be afraid to ignore or delete emails that request your financial assistance. It doesn’t say anything about your character because the situations described within these emails are phony.

If you or a loved one have lost money, become the victim of identity theft or any other cybercrime, resources are available through The United States Department of Justice's  website to help. Just select your state from the drop-down menu found on the Victim and Family Support web page to find local organizations that can help with food, money and other important resources.