Scam tempts victims with promises of free cash
- Kim Thompson: Better Business Bureau
- October 28, 2019
- 1103
Free cash you didn’t know you had? It sounds like a dream come true, but it’s actually a trick many consumers have reported to BBB.org/ScamTracker. In this scheme con artists use the false promise of unclaimed rewards to fool consumers into giving up their credit card information.
You receive a postcard in the mail, an email or a message on social media stating you have an unclaimed reward that can be redeemed with major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target stores. According to the message, your payment is worth $100 or more. But you had better act quickly because you only have a few more days to redeem it. You are given a phone number to call to find out how to get your reward.
When you call, you are asked for personal information in order to “confirm your identity.” Con artists may ask you for your name, address, government ID number or other sensitive details. Once your identity is confirmed, you may be asked to pay a small fee to cover mailing costs. Now the person needs your debit or credit card number. This is how scammers gain access to your personal information and may attempt to make fraudulent charges using your card information. And of course your “unclaimed money” will never arrive because it never existed.
Think you have unclaimed assets? There is no central place to look for unclaimed assets. You can search for unclaimed money and property in states where you have lived at www.Unclaimed.org. You also can check for unclaimed funds from bank failures and credit union closures.
Be wary of unsolicited correspondence. If you receive an unsolicited letter, phone call, email or any other kind of correspondence from a stranger, be careful. Most legitimate companies will not contact you this way unless you have previously given them permission to do so.
Never give your personal information to strangers. Never give anyone you don’t know and trust access to any of your personal information. This includes your full name, phone number and address, your ID numbers, and your banking information.
To learn more about protecting yourself from scams and con artists, visit www.BBB.org/ScamTips. Learn more about unclaimed money and how to find it at www.USA.gov/unclaimed-money.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam, help others avoid the same fate by reporting your experience at www.BBB.org/ScamTracker.
Visit www.bbb.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, follow us on social media and more.