What is it called when you scam someone out of money?
Smishing. Short for “SMS phishing,” smishing often involves text messages claiming to be from your bank or another company. The message displays a phone number to call or a link to click, giving scammers the chance to trick you out of money or personal information.
What can I do if I was a victim of a scam?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report the scam to the FTC online, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, ET).
How do online love interests get scammed?
The scammers transfer stolen money into the new account, and then tell their victims to wire the moneyout of the country. Victims think they’re just helping out their soulmate, never realizing they’re aiding and abetting a crime. Here are some warning signsthat an online love interest might be a fake. They ask you to:
How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Facebook?
If you do an image search and the person’s photo appears under several different names, you’re probably dealing with a scammer. And if the person’s online profile disappears a few days after they meet you, that’s another tip-off.
What should I do if I was scammed by someone?
If you gave the scammer your bank or credit card account numbers, contact your bank or credit card company and ask how to protect your accounts. Please report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The details you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
Why do people fall for frauds?
People like to think of themselves as being consistent and committed individuals. If we say we are going to do something, then generally we will, as failure to do so may dent our sometimes fragile self-esteem. Fraudsters take advantage of this by getting us to commit to little steps that then escalate in nature.