Avoid becoming a victim! Follow these guidelines…

• Talk to someone! Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust such as a family member. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They may even make threats. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert or simply tell a friend.
• Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: the sender has no protection against loss! Con artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it's nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don't wire money to strangers, to sellers or to someone who claims to be a relative in an emergency (and also wants you to keep the request secret).
• Don't send money to someone you don't know! That includes an online merchant you've never heard of - or an online love interest/romance who asks for money or favors. It's best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy items through an online auction, consider a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. Don't ever send cash or use a wire transfer service.
  Also, consider how you pay. Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods do not. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it's nearly impossible to get your money back. That's also true for reloadable cards (ex: MoneyPak or Reloadit) & gift cards (ex: iTunes or Google Play). Government offices/agencies & honest companies will never request these forms of payment.
• Don't respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial information, whether the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message, or an ad! Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity or a company you do business with. Don't send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request. The scammers are trying to trick you into giving up your personal information. Do not click on links in an email or call phone numbers that are left on your answering machine or voicemail. If you get a message and are concerned about any account status, call the phone number on the back of your credit/debit card, or your bank statement to confirm legitimacy.
• Don't respond to a request for payment in gold bars or other precious metals. These scammers will attempt to contact you via fraudulent email, text message, phone call or internet pop-up. Scammers may say your bank account(s) have been hacked & the only way to keep your money safe is to withdraw all money or liquidate assets then purchase gold bars. Couriers are often used to pick up the gold bars. Legitimate businesses, banks & US government agencies will never ask for the purchase of gold bars or precious metals.
• Don't believe your caller ID! Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information displayed. The phone number & name you see aren't always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up! If you think the caller might be telling the truth, only call back the number you know to be genuine.
• Don't pay upfront for a promise! Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit & loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They may possibly say you've won a prize, but first you must pay taxes or fees. If you do, they will take your money & disappear.
  In addition, do not play a foreign lottery. It's easy to be tempted by messages that boast enticing odds in a foreign lottery, or messages that claim you've already won. Inevitably you'll be asked to pay taxes, fees or custom duties to collect your prize. If you send money, you won't get it back, regardless of a promise. Please note, it is illegal to play foreign lotteries.
• Do not agree to deposit a check from someone you don't know & then wire money back, no matter how convincing their story! By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within a few days, but uncovering a fake check can possibly take weeks. YOU are responsible for the checks you deposit. When a check turns out to be fraudulent, it is your responsibility for paying back the banking institution.
• Avoid getting hurt financially and/or emotionally by a puppy scam! Puppy scammers post fake dog litters online and pretend to be someone they are not. These scammers take advantage of people who are in high emotion situations. They take your money & unfortunately you never receive the puppy or even any follow-up communication in return. However, there are ways to find a legitimate breeder or puppy seller online. Read reviews & references. Meet your breeder or seller. Ask questions! Legitimate breeders want to talk about their dogs. Ask for proof, such as puppy parents, health records/screenings. Get documentation such as papers, screenings/shot schedule. Be patient with the process. If you feel pressure for an upfront payment or additional requested money from the seller, be careful. That is a warning sign of a scammer…There is no puppy! AKC Marketplace is a great start to search for a puppy. It is an exclusive online resource that lists 100% AKC-registerable litters.
• In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established charities rather than one that seems to have sprung up overnight. Pop-up charities probably don't have the infrastructure to get help to the affected areas or people. They could be collecting the money to finance illegal activity. Check out https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/pass-it-on/charity-fraud to learn more.
• Remember there's no such thing as a sure thing! If someone contacts you promoting low-risk, high-return investment opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches that insist you act now, guarantees of big profits, promises of little or no financial risk, or demands that you send cash immediately, report them to the FTC. For more information about investment fraud, visit cftc.gov

If you believe you are a victim of Identity Theft call:
Suffolk County Police Department 631 852-COPS (2677) or visit suffolkpd.org
SCPD Financial Crimes Unit at 631 852-6821
FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AT www.ftc.gov or
call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY 1-866-653-4621.

PASS ALONG TO FAMILY & FRIENDS

Identity Theft Pamphlet