Learn to Identify and Protect Yourself from Imposter Scams
What Is an Imposter Scam?
An imposter scam is when a scammer lies and pretends to be someone they’re not to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. Scammers often pretend to be from your bank, a business you know, or from a government agency. These imposter scams often begin with a call, text message, or email. The scams may vary, but work the same way – a scammer pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money or share personal information.
How To Spot Imposter Scams
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Scammers try to convince you they’re with the government or a business you recognize by faking the caller ID. -
Scammers give you an employee ID or badge number or use the name of a real government employee. -
Scammers send official-looking letters with seals and make up government agency names that sound real but aren’t.
How To Avoid Imposter Scams
Know that you have rights and legal protections — even if you owe a debt, miss jury duty, or had your identity stolen.
Know that you have rights and legal protections — even if you owe a debt, miss jury duty, or had your identity stolen.
- Never transfer or send money, cryptocurrency, or gold to someone you don’t know in response to an unexpected call or message.
- Don’t believe anyone who says you have to quickly move your money to “protect” it. Anyone who tells you that is a scammer.
- If there’s a problem with your account or identity, always talk about it with someone you trust — especially if the stranger on the phone says it’s serious or involves a crime or claims to be from the government.
- Don’t click on links or call phone numbers in unexpected messages. If you think the message could be real, verify the story. Contact the organization in question using a phone number, website, or email address you know is real. Don't use the contact information in the unexpected message.
Government and Law Enforcement Imposter Scams
Scammers pretend to be from government organizations, law enforcement agencies, or local court systems.
- FTC impersonators – say you have to move your money to “protect it”
- IRS impersonators – claim you owe taxes and have to pay immediately, or you’ll be arrested
- Jury duty scams – say you missed jury duty, and must pay a fine
- Police / sheriff impersonators – pretend to be the local police, hoping to get you to pay a fine
- Social Security impersonators – say your benefits will end or your Social Security number will be suspended unless you pay
Business Imposter Scams
Scammers pretend to be from well-known businesses.
- Amazon impersonators – text messages offer fake refunds
- Geek Squad impersonators – bogus invoices say you’ll be charged for renewal if you don’t call to cancel
- Job scams / fake recruiters – offer a job and say you must pay for starter kits, training, or certifications
- Tech support scammers – ask for money to fix a non-existent computer problem
- Package delivery scams – say there’s a problem with a package delivery
- Prize scams – say you must pay or give your information to claim your prize
Family and Romance Scams
Scammers pretend to be a family member or a romantic partner.
- Family emergencies – scammers pretend to be a loved one in trouble who needs money
- Romance scams – scammers use fake profiles, build relationships, then ask for money
Embrace the Power of NO
Saying “No” can be uncomfortable, especially when faced with someone who is charming, persuasive, and promising you everything you’ve ever wanted. Saying “No” doesn’t just feel like rejecting a request, it feels like rejecting a person. Scammers know this and will use every trick they can to make saying “No” feel impossible.
However, it is essential to remember that it is perfectly acceptable to reject, refuse, or ignore any suspicious requests. At the end of the day, saying “No” isn’t about being harsh, it’s about being safe. It’s about honoring your worth, your time, and your future.
“No” Is a Full Sentence
Remember, you don’t owe anyone an explanation for protecting yourself. “No” is a complete sentence.
- You don’t have to justify why you won’t send money.
- You don’t have to explain why you won’t share more personal information.
- You don’t have to feel guilty for questioning someone’s story.
A well intentioned person who truly cares about you will respect your boundaries. A scammer won’t.
So how do you do it? How do you get comfortable saying “No”?
- Set clear boundaries early.
If you get a suspicious phone call or email, let them know you don’t send money, you don’t share sensitive details, and you move slowly when building trust. - Keep it short and simple.
If someone asks for money or crypto, you can say:
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- “No, I’m not comfortable with that.”
- “No, I don’t send money online.”
- Just say “No” and hang up.
You don’t need a long explanation, because explanations invite arguments.
So the next time someone pressures you online, whether it’s for love, money, or for crypto, pause, breathe, and remember: “No” is your power word. Use it.
Monitor Your Credit Files and Account Statements Closely
If you discover an issue and feel your information has been compromised, it’s important to act quickly. Contact your financial institution immediately. Citizens Bank customers, contact your local Branch or call (844) 770-7100. If you have disclosed sensitive information in a phishing attack, you should also contact one of the three major credit bureaus and discuss whether you need to place a fraud alert on your file, which will help prevent thieves from opening a new account in your name. Here is the contact information for each bureau’s fraud division:
- Equifax: 800-525-6285
- Experian: 888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 800-680-7289
Test your
scam spotting skills.
scam spotting skills.
Can you tell the difference between a legit interaction and a scam?
