Scams can ruin people financially. Avoiding scams is becoming harder each year as technology and tactics for tricking people become more advanced. Online scams and phone scams are the most common. Becoming familiar with the most common types of scams and red flags for scams might help you avoid them in the future. If a scam led you to bankruptcy, consider asking a Chattanooga bankruptcy lawyer for guidance.
MOST COMMON TYPES OF SCAMS
Scammers can target you on the phone, online, through the mail, or in person. The most common types of scams include imposter scams, debt settlement scams, mortgage scams, prize scams, and charity scams. You may have run into several imposter scams and charity scams by now.
Imposter scams happen when a scammer pretends to be a trustworthy person like someone you know, a government organization, or a charity. These tend to happen over the phone where the scammer says you owe money on your car, or you should buy an extended warranty because your warranty is expiring. If you did not expect this call, this is likely a scam.
Charity scams will try to convince you to donate money to them without giving you many details. They may try to find ways to dodge your questions. The same applies to debt settlement and mortgage scams. These scams tend to make big financial promises without disclosing details. Mortgage scams can sound very convincing.
Prize scams are most commonly found online through your mail, websites, or text messages. When something looks or seems off, you are probably looking at a scam.
HOW TO AVOID FINANCIAL SCAMS
You can avoid financial scams by looking for red flags and avoiding certain actions. The top red flags for scams involve false promises and exaggerated claims. When you are given a promise that sounds too good to be true and the return is higher than the demand, this is a major red flag.
Bad grammar and spelling mistakes are common with online scams. Statements saying you can only take the offer today or this is exclusively for you are both red flags. However, many people panic and fall for scammer statements related to legal punishments and threats. You might be facing a scam if the threat is empty and has no reason to be made against you.
To avoid losing money to a scam, you need to avoid certain actions. You can avoid scams by not giving out sensitive personal or financial information like your:
- Social security number
- Bank account numbers
- Credit card information
Avoid deals that require you to pay with a money transfer service. Do not respond to suspicious emails or calls. Never click on flashing buttons on websites because this could lead to losing your sensitive information.
BANKRUPTCY LAWYER IN Chattanooga, TN
Finding out bankruptcy is your only option can be overwhelming at first. Do not hesitate to contact us today at Tom Bible Law by dialing (423) 690-7712
for a consultation about your financial situation. Our experienced legal team of Tennessee bankruptcy attorneys can help you navigate all your financial options related to bankruptcy. You can find us throughout the Tennessee cities of Chattanooga and Tullahoma.