Six Common Fraud Schemes and How To Avoid Them

Our hunkering down during the Covid crisis has made us a sitting target to scams.  Here are a couple of common ones and tips on how to handle them

Tech support scam

You may get a call alerting you to a problem with your computer, or a message may pop up on the screen saying your computer is infected with a virus. If you follow the instructions of the caller or the screen message, your computer may be taken hostage and your personal information stolen. You are then asked to pay a fee to restore access to your computer or data.

What to do:

Prevention is the best medicine. Don’t click pop-up ads or attachments from unknown senders. Avoid clicking links in emails. Visit known websites by manually typing the URLs in a browser.
Do not allow anyone to control your computer remotely and never give passwords and security codes to anyone on the phone.
Hang up if you receive a tech support call, and don’t respond to scare messages about your computer being infected.  If you need help with your computer, go to your local computer or electronics store.
Back up your data regularly. That way, you can reboot and regain control of your computer by cleaning your hard drive and reinstalling your operating system.

Tax refund fraud

A criminal, having illegally obtained your Social Security number, files a fraudulent tax return in your name and collects a refund. When you submit your legitimate tax return, it is rejected because the IRS has already processed a return with your Social Security number. In some cases, you may receive a notice prior to filing your return that the IRS has received a suspicious return using your identity.

What to do:

File your return early, reducing the likelihood that a criminal would have previously filed a fraudulent return.
If your return is rejected because of a duplicate filing under your Social Security number, submit Form 14039, Identity Theft AffidavitOpens in a new window, to the IRS.
Remember, the IRS will contact you through the US Postal Service, not a phone call.
Do not return a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS.
Visit Identity Theft CentralOpens in a new window for information about tax-related identity theft and data security protection from the IRS. It can make sense to review the identity theft information provided by your state as well.
Continue to pay your taxes and file your legitimate tax return, although you may have to submit a paper return rather than an electronic one. Attach Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, when filing your return.

Employment or health care fraud

A person uses your identity to obtain a job or receive health care services. You may get a letter from the IRS after filing your taxes saying that you appear to have underreported your income. Or, in the health care version of the scheme, you get a bill for medical exams, procedures, and prescription drugs that you never received. The pandemic has provided scammers with opportunities for fraud, and the Office of the Inspector General in Health & Human Services has issued a fraud alert connected to COVID-19 related health care scamsOpens in a new window.

What to do:

If you suspect you are a victim of taxpayer identity theft, immediately contact the IRS and file Form 14039, Identity Theft AffidavitOpens in a new window.
Never surrender Social Security, Medicare, or health insurance numbers to anyone you don’t know and trust.
If you believe someone has signed up for health insurance in your name, call the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at 800-318-2596, and explain the situation.
If it’s Medicare-related, file a complaint with the Office of the Inspector General in Health & Human ServicesOpens in a new window.
Review the Medical Identity Theft checklistOpens in a new window on the Federal Trade Commission’s website for more steps to take.

Unemployment benefits scam

Scammers who apply for unemployment benefits in your name could prevent your legitimate claim from going through—while they collect the benefits you’re entitled to. This scam became more prevalent in 2020 as unemployment benefits were temporarily expanded due to COVID-19. If you have a job, your employer may alert you to a fraudulent claim in your name or you may find out when the unemployment office sends a letter about a recent claim.

What to do:

Notify the unemployment office in your state about the fraudulent claim.
Report the crime and start a recovery plan on IdentityTheft.govOpens in a new window. Click on the button that says “Unemployment benefits identity theft: Click here to report.”
Be sure to review the identity theft page maintained by your state as well for more potential steps.
File a police report if possible.
Freeze your credit or put a fraud alert on your credit reports.

Credit card fraud

Someone using your identity signs up for a credit card and racks up large charges. A crook who obtains a new card could use it extensively before being discovered. Sometimes, a stolen identity is used to obtain personal loans or open unauthorized financial accounts. You will likely learn about this when bills are not paid and you are contacted by collection agencies looking for payment.

You may notice either you are not getting any postal mail (due to address fraud or theft) or you start receiving confirmation or decline letters for credit cards or loans that you did not initiate.

What to do:

Report the crime and start a recovery plan on IdentityTheft.govOpens in a new window.
File a police report.
Freeze your credit or put a fraud alert on your credit reports.
Sign up for alerts from your bank or credit card issuer to stay on top of your legitimate accounts.

Fake charities

You are solicited by email, phone, or in person to contribute to an organization that sounds like a good cause but is actually a scam. Such schemes may be general in nature, often using a name very similar to a well-known charity, or they may be more targeted, attempting to prey on people who are victims of a natural disaster or known to have a personal interest in a particular disease or social cause. These days, charity scams are also being circulated through social media posts on sites like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn.

What to do:

Before contributing, research the charity through the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving AllianceOpens in a new window, Charity NavigatorOpens in a new window, Charity WatchOpens in a new window, or GuideStarOpens in a new window.
If you suspect you have been a victim of charity fraud, file a complaint on IdentityTheft.gov