Scammers will say or do anything to get your money and personal information. Scammers may try to claim they are from the government, mention names of recognizable organizations or businesses, or send messages via text, email, or social media. Josh Kramer, Monmouth Police Department Investigator, says one scam seen more often than not are prize winning scams:
“They will tell you that you have won such and such money, they will send you a check, keep $500 and send it back. The more you send back, the bigger the prize will be next time. These scams keep continuing and continuing and continuing on. Obviously, there is never a moment where Ed McMahon shows up from Publisher’s Clearing House with the big check outside, but I always tell people that if you want to believe that, he will show up.”
According to the Federal Trade Commission, three signs in identifying if you are in fact dealing with a prize scammer are having to pay to receive your prize, the scammer claims paying more will increase your odds of winning, or financial information is requested.
