Scammers want your money—and they want it fast - September 2026

By: The Roseville Police Department

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported losing more than $4 billion to scams involving bank transfers and cryptocurrency. Many of these scams involved criminals posing as government agencies, trusted businesses, or both. While the stories scammers tell and the ways they contact you continue to evolve, one thing remains the same—they insist you pay using methods that are difficult or impossible to reverse.

Be suspicious of anyone who unexpectedly contacts you claiming you owe money, have won a prize, or must act immediately to resolve a problem—and then tells you the only way to pay is through a bank transfer, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, a payment app, or gift cards. According to the FTC, that's a major warning sign of a scam.

The FTC offers the following tips to help protect yourself:

• Never send money to anyone who insists you pay using only one specific payment method, regardless of the reason they give.

• Verify the request. Search online for the company or person's name along with words like "scam," "review," or "complaint" to see what others are reporting.

• Use a credit card whenever possible. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections and the ability to dispute unauthorized charges.

• Act quickly if you've been scammed. Contact your bank, payment service, or financial institution immediately, report the transaction as fraud, and ask if it can be stopped or reversed.

Scammers rely on urgency and fear to pressure their victims into making quick decisions. Taking a moment to verify the request, refusing unusual payment methods, and knowing the warning signs can help protect your finances. When in doubt, stop, verify, and never let anyone rush you into sending money.

If you become the victim of a scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency and the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.