Cybercriminals and scammers are experts at imitation and impersonation. Be cautious when someone calls you about anything money-related. Be sure to verify who they are. The common thread with imposter scams is that they usually ask you to respond
immediately to an urgent situation that requires money. Remember that no government agency or business entity will call you out of the blue and demand money immediately. If the caller doesn’t want to give you time to consult with family
members or advisers, they don’t have your best interests at heart.
Some examples of imposter scams:
They say they are collecting a fee for your government relief check, promising to send the check to you faster. What to do: hang up or delete the message immediately. There is no fee associated with government stimulus checks, and there is nothing
you or any other individual can do to make it come sooner.
They send an email that looks like it’s from a legitimate group—e.g., the World Health Organization—and provide a handy link where you can make a donation. Don’t click! If you want to donate, it is always safest to go directly
to the organization’s website.
They call and identify themselves as a company, a relative or a big government agency, e.g., the Social Security Administration or IRS. Or your grandchild who is having an emergency. Or Microsoft or Apple. Or some charming person you’ve met
online. There are many ways scammers can impersonate people and businesses -- be wary of these types of messages and calls.