THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) offers these tips to protect yourself against fraud and scams.
•Never give your personal or financial information in response to an unexpected request. Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of a utility or tech company; charity; or government agency like the Social Security Administration, IRS or Medicare.
•Take time to investigate any request for payment or personal information. Legitimate businesses will always give you time to make a decision, so talk to friends or family members before taking any action.
•Requests to send funds through a money transfer company, put money on a gift card, or deposit a check and send money all indicate a scam.
If you suspect a scam or have been scammed, report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877382-4357.
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