In Pima county, you can call 911 for emergency and non-emergency issues.  Or you can call the Sheriff’s Deparment at 520-351-4900.   Before you proceed with giving any money or any information, it is very important to check with someone who can verify the information first.  Do not be a scam victim.   Alternatively, you can call the Scam Squad between 9:00 am and noon, Monday thru Friday at 520-351-6715.  Do not panic, and do not feel rushed to make any decisions.  

Remember, there’s no such thing as free. But if a business says something is free, you shouldn’t have to pay anything for it. Most of the scams we deal with start with a “free” offer but it turns out you have to buy something in order to get it. That’s a classic bait-and-switch game, and it may indicate a problem with the company. The product you’re buying may not be what you expect.

1. Does the reward (or payment) make sense for the task involved?
2. Is this offer out of the ordinary?
3. Does this offer require sending money to someone (or a business) that I was previously unfamiliar with?
4. Is the ad soliciting for a “secret shopper” (a frequent scam tactic)?
5. Do the funds originate from an offer on Craigslist?
6. Am I being asked to return money via wire transfer, Western Union, or other methods?
7. Does the offer specify that I’m not to tell my credit union or bank about the origins of the money?
8. Does the offer sound too good to be true? (If so, it probably is.)

When you put an ad to sell an item, ask for CASH only – no checks, no cashier’s check, no money orders.  All these forms of payment can be printed and made to look authentic, but are actually fake.  

If you sold something already, and were scammed and lost money, you need to call the Sheriff’s or Police Department in your area and file a report with as much information as you can provide.

Never give your SS number to someone on the phone.  The Social Security  Administration will NEVER call you.  If someone calls and says they are from the SSA, hang up.  If in doubt, call the SSA at 800-772-1213 to verify.  

If you SS number was compromised, call the SSA and report it!  Your number will be monitored for illegal activity.  But you must report it to them first, giving them as much information about how it was compromised. 

If you are asked to pay anything with a gift card, you are being SCAMMED.  Scammers ask for gift cards because they cannot be traced and are equivalent to cash.  Never buy gift cards because someone told you to pay with them.  

If you see an ad in the newspaper, say advertising a car for $1500 – but they want payment in gift cards.  Can this be right?  If it is too good to be true, it is.  Even if they show a picture, be careful.  Once you buy the gift cards and give the “seller” the numbers on the cards, your money is gone, and no car will be delivered.

Hang up! Or ask questions of the caller, the answers to which only the real grandchild would know.   Call your family, and verify that the grandchild is fine.  Never say the child’s name to the scammer – they may trying calling back later.  Do not argue with the caller, or think you can talk sense into them.  Again, just hang up!

Microsoft or any computer company does NOT monitor our computers.  A scammer is asking to get into your computer by means of fixing a problem you do not have and thereby getting into your accounts, passwords, and other personal details.  They may install viruses into your computer that will forward them personal and financial information.  Under no circumstances should you give someone you do not know access to your computer over the phone.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts

Please click this link! The Federal Trade Commission has a wonderful site, where you can find even more details about the latest scams.  And, of course, please call the Scam Squad if you ever have questions or concerns.