Stay one step ahead of scammers

By: The Roseville Police Department

Criminals constantly develop new scams and put new twists on old ones—to trick people into giving up personal information or hard-earned money. Scammers often target people they believe may be more vulnerable, including older adults and young people. Increasingly, they also use artificial intelligence to make their scams more convincing and win victims’ trust.

One of the best ways to fight fraud is to talk about it. Share what you know with family members, friends, and neighbors. The more people understand how scammers operate, the easier it is to recognize the warning signs and avoid becoming a victim. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlights several important trends:

• Imposter scams remain the #1 scam reported to the FTC. Scammers may pretend to be your bank, a government agency, a toll agency, or another trusted organization. They may claim there is a problem with your account or payment and pressure you to act immediately. If you receive an unexpected message or call, contact the organization directly using a phone number or website you know is legitimate—not the information provided by the scammer.

• Investment scams can result in significant financial losses. Scammers often promise unusually high returns or little risk to convince people to invest. Before handing over money, research the person or company offering the investment. You can use the free search tool at Investor.gov to verify investment professionals and firms.

• Scammers are reaching people wherever they are. Text messages have become a common way for scammers to make contact, but they also use phone calls, email, social media, and other platforms. Be cautious of unexpected messages or requests, especially when they create a sense of urgency or fear.

• Scammers often dictate how you must pay. Bank transfers, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps, and gift cards are popular with criminals because these payments can be difficult to recover. If someone insists that you can only pay using one of these methods, stop and verify the request before sending any money.

Talking about scams can help prevent them. Take a few minutes to share these warning signs with the people you care about. A simple conversation today could help someone recognize a scam tomorrow—and keep a criminal from getting their money or personal information.