When it comes to convenience, service and scale of products, nothing beats Amazon. Unfortunately, though, scammers leverage Amazon’s reputation in many unique ways. Here are five Amazon-related scams you need to know about. Update your order In this scam, a shopper places an order on Amazon and then gets a phone call or notice by email or text. It claims …
The dark web is the deepest layer of the internet that isn’t visible to the average browser. Unfortunately, its name is a perfect description of its function, as the dark web is full of illegal activities and crimes. Let’s take a closer look at the dark web and how you can protect your information from being snared. What is the …
It’s tax season, so it’s time to get your paperwork in order and hire a tax preparer. Unfortunately, though, there are thousands of scammers looking to steal your information and your tax refund by posing as authentic tax preparers. It’s important to learn how to recognize the signs of a fraudulent tax preparer so you don’t fall victim to a …
The Child Tax Credit, a part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that takes effect in July, is already drawing the attention of scammers. The newly expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) will provide monthly payments of up to $300 per child for approximately 40 million households across the country. Payments will be issued via direct deposit, paper check, …
There is finally a light at the end of the socially distanced tunnel – the FDA has approved two coronavirus vaccines. Detailed plans to distribute from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna are already underway, with additional vaccines expected to gain FDA approval in 2021. Unfortunately, whenever there’s big news, scammers aren’t far behind. Almost as soon as the news of …
No matter what’s going in with the economy, debt-collection scams are always around. Now, scammers are exploiting the financial downturn by tricking unsuspecting victims into paying for debts that don’t actually exist or using abusive tactics to collect legitimate debts. Don’t be the next victim of a debt-collection scam. Here’s all you need to know about these scams: How the …
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a wave of scams, with no signs of slowing down. These scams are also producing a surge of counterfeit bills into circulation. Using cutting-edge technology, scammers create bills that look just like the real thing to the untrained eye. Unfortunately, once counterfeit bills are passed, their new owner can become liable for passing …
Tens of millions of Americans have found themselves out of work as the economy reels from the impact of COVID-19. A record 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment insurance in the four weeks leading up to April 11. Unfortunately, when there’s bad news, the scammers aren’t far behind. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans have lost a …
A top priority for us at Directions Credit Union is the financial safety of our members. Unfortunately, we have recently seen an increase in fraud activity. Criminals are using the current coronavirus pandemic to make their fraud attempts more relevant in addition to preying on people’s concern and fear. To help concerned citizens avoid scams, members of the integrated Directions …
Crisis and disaster headlines typically generate misinformation and scammers try to take advantage of the situation. The novel coronavirus is no different. Scammers want to collect your personal or financial information or get you to download malware to do the same thing. Or they may be selling products they claim to cure or prevent the virus. They will use emails, …
