There will never be a shortage of scams. If you ask around, most people have received an email with a suspicious link. Many others have received an email from someone claiming to be a loved one needing money wired to them fast for some kind of emergency. Awareness is key to scam prevention. Below you will find some of the top trending scams of 2019.
The Social Security Scam 
The Social Security scam consists of a phone call or an email stating that your Social Security number has been suspended due to fraudulent activity. You are told that you must take immediate action to reinstate your number.
Things to Know
First of all, your Social Security number will never be suspended. Second, if Social Security identifies a problem with your number you will receive a letter. You will not get a phone call or email and you will never be asked to provide information. If you are not positive if the phone call or email is legitimate, it is better to contact Social Security directly by going to their website, www.socialsecurity.gov or calling them at 1 (800) 772-1213.
The Equifax Data Breach Scam 
In mid-July Equifax reported a breach dating back to September of 2017. You can go to ftc.gov/Equifax and find out if your information was compromised. You can also file a claim. This incident is a real event, however, just as soon as the breach was reported scammers got busy creating fake sites where concerned citizens could go to see if they were affected. Innocent people were paying these fake sites to clear and protect their identities.
Things to Know
An important fact to remember is that you will never be charged to file a claim on the official Equifax site. The fake sites are charging people to file a claim while getting personal information. Always make sure that you go to the correct site, ftc.gov/Equifax.
Work From Home Shipping Scam
This scam has been around for years but it still pops up from time to time. The job post describes your duties as simple and financially rewarding. All you have to do is receive packages at your home. You are then instructed to download new shipping labels from their site and ship them to the addresses they give you. Sounds easy enough. What they don’t tell you is why they need you to re-ship these items in the first place. What you are actually doing is shipping stolen merchandise purchased with stolen credit cards. You become liable for receiving stolen goods at your home, not them!
Things to Know
A good rule of thumb is, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Before accepting employment for a work-from-home job, make sure it is a reputable company. Do your homework and research, research, research.
Warrant For Your Arrest Scam 
These scam calls inform you that a warrant has been issued for your arrest and that you must pay a large fine to avoid getting arrested. The call is aggressive in nature and victims of the scam are instructed to meet officers at locations such as shopping malls or parking lots to pay thousands of dollars. Some have received the call in the middle of the night only adding to the anxiety of the call.
Things to Know
If a warrant for your arrest is ever issued it is always done through actual paperwork and a uniformed officer will serve you. They will never call you and ask you to meet them at a location, especially one that is not the police station, to pay your fine.
Rental Scam 
Scammers hijack a listing or sometimes they create one of their own. When you contact them the story is always the same. They are no longer living in the state and therefore they can’t show you the place but they invite you to drive by. They are also quick to rent it to you without a background or credit check. If you agree to renting you are instructed to send a deposit. They assure you they will send you keys as soon as they receive the money.
Things to Know
Rental agreements are most always based, in part, on background and credit checks. Proof of income is required when applying to rent also. The inability to view the apartment or house in person is also a red flag. Follow your instincts and always ask questions if something doesn’t feel right.
Scam Awareness
Scammers are busy thinking of new ways to scam people out of their hard earned money or identities every single day. You can usually Google a few words followed by the word scam and get confirmation if something is legitimate or not. Pay attention to the phone number. Does the area code coincide with the location of the company address? Also look at the grammar. Some scammers may be in foreign countries and the emails will have language and grammar that is not often used. Scam awareness benefits everyone. Be aware. Research. Always question and follow your instincts.
