Don’t Get Scammed – Protect Your Financial Health
Posted March 4, 2008
To refer others to this page, please use:
http://www.nad.org/scamalert
Scam = cheat, swindle, fraud, trick.
Have you received a message from a “deaf charity” that offered you prize money for your donation? Have you received a message from a "deaf lottery" that said you are a winner, but you must first pay taxes or a processing fee? Did the message mention the National Association of the Deaf (NAD)? The NAD does not participate in "deaf charity" or "deaf lottery" programs. Beware.
Have you been asked for money and promised your money back plus a large financial reward? Did someone ask for your social security number, your bank account number, or other personal identification? Beware.
You may be invited to help someone with a money problem. You may be invited to join a business, franchise, or investment opportunity that seems like a quick and easy way to make money. These opportunities are appealing, but may be a scam – a way to take your money, not make you money. Beware.
You may receive offers or advertisements – by mail or by e-mail or by phone or through a relay service – to get money, transfer money, make money, work at home, attend a seminar or workshop, start a business, or make an investment. Beware.
Sample Scams
- Sample Scam – You receive a message from a "deaf charity" asking you to help people. They may try to make you feel guilty for not giving money to a charity. They may promise you prize money for donating to the charity. Other people may send you a message claiming they won prize money and now you can win prize money, too. They cannot prove they are a true organization. This is a scam.
- Sample Scam – You receive a message from a "deaf lottery" saying you won money. They may say you must pay taxes or pay a fee before you can get your lottery money. They may try to make you feel foolish for not sending your money to get more money. Other people may send you a message claiming they won have already won the lottery, and now you can win, too. They cannot prove they are a true organization. This is a scam.
- Sample Scam – You receive a message about a person in another country who will offer you lots of money, sometimes millions of dollars. They may say that they are an NAD affiliate. The NAD did not write or send that message. The NAD did not authorize that message. The NAD does not send messages about people in other countries and is not involved in any programs that give away money. This message is a scam.
Do not become a victim. Protect yourself. Protect your money.
Take Action: If you think that you have been scammed, or if you think someone has tried to scam you, please file an Internet scam complaint at http://www.ic3.gov/. Immediately take action to protect yourself and your money. Visit your bank as soon as possible and explain what happened. Your bank may be able to help you protect your money. You may need to close your bank account and open a new one. Your bank may also be able to tell you how to protect your identity, Social Security number and your credit.
The NAD also recommends that you learn more about a money making opportunity before you invest your time or your money. Check with your lawyer, financial or tax advisor before investing your money or your time in a business or investment opportunity.
For more information about business and investment opportunities scams and fraud, visit the following websites:
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