Earlier this year, my family came frighteningly close to becoming victims of a highly sophisticated employment scam. And the truly scary part? We were practically thrilled to hand over our personal information right up until one last-second misgiving caused us to take a closer look.
Although we were fortunate enough to catch this scamming operation before we were faced with identity theft, not everyone is so lucky. If you’ve fallen prey, here is what to do if you’ve been scammed: damage control as quickly as possible.
1. Change Passwords
Before you do anything else, start by changing all of your passwords to limit scammer access as quickly as possible. This includes changing passwords for all your email accounts, social media, banking accounts, shopping sites, utilities, and anything else tied to your personal information, especially if you use the same password across multiple websites.
Start with your email account, since it can be a tremendous resource for scammers. Once they’ve hacked in, it’s all too easy for these criminals to change your password so they can use your information to set up financial accounts you can’t access or scam other unwitting victims.
If you haven’t done so already, create a strong password using at least 12 characters, including numbers, symbols, and capital letters. Don’t save it on your phone or computer. Instead, write it down and keep it someplace secure — ideally in your home safe if you have one.
2. Contact Your Bank or Credit Card
Write down all of your banking information and go down the list, contacting every card provider and banking institution, especially if you’ve given a scammer access to your Social Security number. Check the back of your card for the toll-free number for your credit card issuer, stop any pending credit card payments, and get a new card issued. Do the same with your bank account to stop any bank transfers and have a new debit card issued. Finally, alert any payment apps you might have.
3. Consider Freezing Your Credit
A security or credit freeze blocks scammers from running credit applications in your name, opening new lines of credit, or taking out auto loans. You’ll still be able to use your existing credit cards, and your credit score won’t be impacted. And when you’re ready, it’s just as easy to lift as it was to freeze.
To put a freeze on your credit, you will need to individually contact the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – either by mail, phone, or online. Requests typically complete within one business day when ordered online or by phone.
To learn more, visit the USA Gov site on security freezes.
4. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication
One of the most secure ways to protect your accounts is by setting up two-factor authentication, something that is becoming increasingly standard throughout the digital world, including most social media, email, streaming TV services, and online banking accounts. With two-factor authentication (also called 2FA), you’ll be asked to confirm your identity with a second device. For example, you may receive a text message with a passcode you’ll then need to enter on your computer to access an account, while others rely on your phone’s biometrics to authenticate your account.
If 2FA is available, you’ll find this listed under an account’s security settings. Taking the time to set it up puts just one more layer between you and a greedy hacker, and it just takes a few minutes to set it up.
5. File a Complaint With the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains a database of scams accessible to thousands of law enforcement agencies across the United States, making it easier for those agencies to catch those responsible and hold them accountable. While the FTC doesn’t investigate individual cases, its database could be the key to helping your local police department.
6. Keep Documentation
If you’ve been scammed, save all documentation related to the incident in a folder on your hard drive. Screenshot all available text message and email conversations with the scammer quickly before they can block you or delete conversations. If there’s a social media profile related to the individual or individuals who scammed you, screenshot that information as well before reporting the profile. Be sure to capture as much information as possible on these screenshots, including email headers and web addresses.
Save all transaction records, including receipts, banking records, and wire transfer records, as well as conversations with any support personnel associated with your reporting of the incident. If you file any official reports with the police or a government agency, be sure to screenshot those conversations or save any paper documents.
7. Scan Your Computer for Malware + Viruses
As if it’s not enough that they tricked you and hijacked your personal information, some scammers guide their victims to install malicious software to further access data on their computers or phones. And once they’re inside your devices, accessing saved passwords and other autofill data in your browser is a cinch. In some worst-case scenarios, they can even lock you out of your devices by creating a new user profile or installing a new PIN.
As scary as that all sounds, it’s possible to get your device back on track no matter how bogged down with malware it might be. Start by removing any software you know for certain they had you install. Once that’s finished, use your computer’s anti-virus software to scan for bugs. Or consider installing highly-ranked software like Norton or McAfee.
8. Monitor Your Accounts and Credit Score
After you’ve gone through all the steps to lock down your accounts and file reports with the right agencies, don’t assume you’re out of the woods. Moving forward, you’ll want to keep an eye on all of your banking and online accounts and keep an eye on your credit score. One of the best ways to achieve this is by signing up for a free credit monitoring service like Credit Karma, which will alert you to any changes to your credit or credit score.
Educate Yourself on Common Scams
It used to be easy to spot a scam. But these days, scammers are highly skilled and, unfortunately, all too good at their job. Worse, they’re constantly coming up with new and creative ways to trick unsuspecting folks out of their hard-earned cash. There are even entire facilities in some parts of the world dedicated to the fine art of scamming.
There are, however, a few common scams you can keep an eye out for. And once you learn how they work, it tends to elevate your scammer spidey-senses so you’re more aware when something feels a little off, which is exactly what happened when I told my husband to do a little more research before falling victim to a job interview phishing scam.
Watch out for these common scams (and report them when you encounter them to save other folks the heartache):
Fake Invoice Scam
While this is usually one of the easier scams to spot, it can get quite tricky. Either by email, mail, text, or phone, victims receive a notification that they owe money. It could be for something as simple as an online purchase, but the worst of these scams prey on victims’ fear by suggesting they owe the IRS or could even face imminent jail time for unpaid bills or tickets of some kind.
Document Scam
This is one of the newer scams out there, but it’s becoming increasingly popular. Victims receive an email encouraging them to click on a PDF or another external document to view important information. It may simply ask you to click a link, where your device gets exposed to malware. Or you may be asked to enter a password, instantly giving away your data to the criminals waiting on the other side of the web.
Job Interview Scam
The goal of the job interview scam is the same as most other scams: to get your personal data. But these scams can take things a step further by tricking you into paying for services or even cloning your likeness and voice, allowing the scammers to create an AI version of you they can use to scam their next victims.
And these scams can be almost indiscernible from a legitimate job offer. When my husband received his scam offer, they went into explicit detail connecting his work history to specific job duties for the fake (and suspiciously high-paying) job they were “offering.” They even had a legitimate-looking email attached to the offer. But when we went to the company’s website to verify the job’s legitimacy, we learned they no longer had a department in the line of work my husband was being “hired” to do.
If you receive a job offer that seems even a little suspicious, double-check with the company’s human resources department. While it’s becoming increasingly common for HR departments to outsource their hiring, they should still be able to confirm whether your job offer is real.
All in all, you shouldn’t have to pay a fee to get a job, and you should always be wary of companies that ask you to buy gift cards or offer employment without an actual interview.
Catfishing Scam
Catfishing scams are similar to job interview scams, but far more insidious because they tend to run a long and emotionally painful con on their victims. Most of the time, these are romance scams that prey on lonely folks just looking to make a connection.
They may use a previous victim to scam a new victim, or they might pretend to be a minor celebrity to trick victims. They’ll typically start by popping into victims’ DMs, and before you know it, you’re in an online relationship with someone claiming they want to marry you. They might even start sending gifts or money to show how much they care.
And then one day, they’ll have an emergency where they are “temporarily” unable to access their money. If you can just send them some gift cards or cryptocurrency, they’ll claim, soon they’ll be able to access their riches again and you’ll be paid back in full. One emergency leads to another, and that payback never comes.
What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed: Stay Alert
If you’ve been the victim of a scam, know that you’re not alone. According to PBS, 3 out of every 10 Americans have fallen victim to a scam. The best thing you can do is pick up the pieces and move forward all the wiser from your experience…and that means keeping an eye out for future scams with an awareness that there’s a new one every day.
Have you been the victim of a scam? Share the details in the comments so your experience could save someone else.
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