Have you received calls, texts or emails in reference to banking issues, winning the lottery, having a warrant for your arrest, from a debt collector that you owe money, late payment on your taxes, family members in the hospital or jail, social security issues, asked to make payments by using gift cards?  Is the person calling claiming to be from a local police department or Sheriff Office and claiming they need immediate payment or you be will arrested?  These are just some of the tactics used by scammers to get money and personal information from you.  DON’T BECOME A VICTIM!  If you don’t know the phone number let it go to voicemail.  Do a phone number search on-line to see if it is a scam number. If it is, block it on your phone.  

Never give out personal information like your name, address, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, social security number, or birth date.  This is all information that can be used to steal your identity and open accounts in your name.  Don’t fall for the “can I confirm information from you”, and then they ask you for your bank account number, credit card number, passwords.

If a caller is legitimate, they will already have all this information.  If you are unsure, hang up!  Look up the number of your bank, credit card company, etc.  Don’t use any phone numbers that arrive via text or email, as they may look legitimate, however they are routed right to the scammers. Don’t click on any links in texts or emails as they can download viruses, or malware on your devices.

Should you have fallen victim to a scammer.  Be sure to file a police report, contact your bank to have your account numbers changed, contact your credit card company and get a new account number.  Contact the 3 credit bureaus Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax and have your accounts flagged.  If someone attempts to open credit accounts in your name, you will get notified.

Also contact the PA Attorney General's Office at scams@attorneygeneral.gov, by calling 1-800-441-2555 or by clicking Scams Complaint – PA Office of Attorney General where you can file a complaint on-line.

Anyone can fall victim to a scammer, think first before giving up any of your personal information. Talk with family and friends to see if they have had an experience similar to yours.  There is nothing to be embarrassed about, you could be saving yourself thousands of dollars by being diligent.  When in doubt if something is true, just hang up.