The Federal Bureau of Investigation out of Pittsburgh says they are launching a nationwide effort to raise awareness for scams and other types of fraud.
The “Take a Beat” Campaign focuses on educating residents on how to identify and prevent scams, and how victims can protect themselves as well as others.
One common example of tactics used by scammers is employing a false sense of urgency or isolation. Scammers will induce empathy or fear, promise monetary gains, companionship, or employment opportunities to lure victims into immediate action. This campaign, however, will urge potential victims to resist pressure and act quickly by pausing for a moment and assessing the situation.
Some tips to protect yourself or others from scams are:
- Take precautionary measures to protect your identity should a criminal gain access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts and monitor for suspicious activity.
- Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door service offers.
- Search online for the contact information (name, phone number, email, addresses) of any unknown source which reaches out to you, as well as the proposed offer. Verify the legitimacy of businesses on websites such as Better Business Bureau. Other people have likely posted information online about businesses and individuals attempting to run scams.
- Never give or send to unverified people or businesses any personally identifiable information, money, checks, gift cards, or wire information.
If you or someone you know falls victim to a fraud or scam, please call your local FBI office or submit a complaint at IC3.gov.
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