How to Tell if You're Being Scammed
Fraud and Scam Prevention Questions
The following table provides essential questions to consider before making large cash withdrawals or suspicious transactions. These questions help identify potential scams and frauds. If you answer yes to any of these questions, it is most likely a scam.
| Category | Questions | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Withdrawals | Is the purpose of this transaction to purchase gift cards, send funds via mail, or through a Bitcoin ATM? | ||
| Remote Access & Computer Pop-Ups | Have you responded to any pop-ups on your computer or recently given someone remote access? | ||
| Received Suspicious Funds | Have you received funds in your account and were told to return a portion of it? | ||
| Family Emergency Scams | Has a family member recently contacted you saying they were arrested or in an accident and needs immediate funds? | ||
| Law Enforcement Impersonation | Did you receive a call from someone claiming to be law enforcement or a financial institution, asking you to withdraw money for safety or investigation purposes? | ||
| Prize or Lottery Scams | Have you won a prize and been asked to pay a fee to claim it? | ||
| Secrecy Requests | Were you told by someone to keep this transaction a secret, or were given specific instructions on what to say? | ||
| Government Impersonation | Is a supposed government entity threatening action if you don’t pay them? | ||
| Gift Card Scams | Are you being asked to purchase gift cards for payment? (Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments) | ||
| Excess Payment Scams | Have you sold something, received a check/wire for more than the amount, and been asked to return the excess funds? | ||
| Family/Friend Impersonation on Social Media | Have you received a social media message from a friend or family member asking for financial assistance but haven't confirmed it in person? | ||
| IRS or Government Calls for Payment | Has the IRS or another agency called to demand immediate payment for unpaid taxes? | ||
| Work-from-Home/Secret Shopper Offers | Is this transaction related to a work-from-home, secret shopper, or online loan application? | ||
| Urgency & Threats | Have you been told this transaction must be completed today, or received threats regarding it? | ||
| Unexpected Large Withdrawals | Are you being asked to make an unusually large cash withdrawal, or threatened into it? |