When it comes to helping you avoid fraud, awareness is the first step. As technology advances, it’s difficult to separate what's fake from what's real. To follow are a few consistent red flags you can spot to stop scammers.

1.    Unexpected contact

A person or company contacts you out of the blue by phone, text, or email about an invoice, order, delivery, or charge you didn’t know about.

2.      Everything is urgent

Scammers will create a false sense of urgency and use pressure tactics like rude or pushy language.

3.     Specific or unusual way to pay

A supposed agency or representative is asking you to send money using gift cards, cryptocurrency, a payment app,

or an online wire. Don’t believe it.

4.      Threatening language

They may tell you an amount is owed, then pledge to call the police if you don’t pay immediately.

What if you suspect it’s a scam?

•         Slow down. Pause, take a breath & think it through.

•         If someone you don't know is asking for money, be skeptical. Directly contact the company they claim to be from to verify the communication.

•         Visit americafirst.com/security for news about how we’re working to protect your resources.