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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