Your group will make an information slide about a particular scam or scheme

Your slide should include the following information:

● Identify the scam/scheme and explain how it works

● Explain why it is harmful/what damage it can cause
● Where you can go for help if you are a victim
● List at least one thing you can do to protect yourself
● Include at least one visual
● Include at least one video clip

Resources:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts (you can browse scams by topic)
https://www.usa.gov/scams-and-frauds (info about different types of scams)
http://www.ncdoj.gov/Consumer.aspx (info about different types of scams)
https://www.ftc.gov/ (you can search scam by topic)
 Phishing
What is it?

thieves pretending to represent

banks or other companies ask
you for account information.

Video clip of phishing

What’s the Damage?

Thieves can use your information
What should I do?
to open accounts in your name
and destroy your credit
• Contact credit reporting agencies and freeze
your credit and bank accounts
How to Protect Myself?
• Contact law enforcement and file a fraud report
Never give personal information over the
phone. Companies will never call you
and ask for information.
 Credit Repair

What is it?
When your credit score is not as
good as it should be and companies
will attempt to try to “clean up your
credit for free.
How can you protect yourself?
- Review your credit card files
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHV2Q21Dm6I
- Improve your credit score
- Don’t give out personal and credit
Why is it bad? card information.
They can’t do anything for you that
you can’t do for yourself. It also can’t
remove negative marks from your Where can you go for help?
report and you would have to pay You can go to the FTC (Federal Trade
100 a month for several months. Commission).
 Pyramid Scheme
What is it? Why’s it bad?
- A pyramid scheme is an - Most investors lose their
investment fraud in which new money.
participants’ fees are typically - Disguised on social media;
used to pay money to existing could be any advertisement
participants for recruiting new
members.

How to protect myself?

Where can you get help?
-If you've given the fraudsters your bank
- Don’t let anyone pressure you account details, alert your bank
into making decisions about immediately. Keep any written
money or investments. Be communications you've received from
wary of schemes or products the pyramid scheme. They may help you
that guarantee income and if give evidence to the authorities.
the rewards are dependent on - Contact the FTC (Federal Trade
product sales
Video clip of Pyramid Scheme Commission)
 Payday Loan
What is it ? Where can I go for help?
A caller claiming to be from a Contact:
collection agency tells victims ● Federal Trade Commission
they must pay their outstanding ( 1-877-382-4357).
balance on a payday loan ● Online at www.ftc.gov
● Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau (855) 411 2372
● Online at
How can you protect yourself: www.consumerfinance.gov
● Ask for a written confirmation, if
they are hesitant to give it to you, Why it’s bad?
it’s most likely a scammer The interest rates on these
● Ask for business name and loans can be up to 400% with
address and search if there a real a lot of hidden fees which
company makes it really difficult to
● Any company asking for your
pay off and makes it easy to
personal information over the
phone is most likely a scammer
fall into a severe debt
 Skimming

What is Skimming ? Why is its bad ?

Skimming fraud is a type of white-collar
crime that involves taking the cash of a It steals your card information. Allowing
business prior to entering it into the the scammer to have access to your money.
accounting system. *Bad credit & no money

How to protect yourself Where You can find help-

Be wary of non-bank ATMs- FICO
Contact your bank-
reports that 60% of skimming occurs at
Once your report a fraudulent
privately-owned ATMs. transaction to your bank, the card
will be cancelled,
 Sweepstakes and Lotteries
What is it? Why is it bad?
This scam could involve trying to get The scammer will ask you to pay
money or personal info by money and give up your account
convincing you that you won a information. You will end up with
lottery. It may also involve trying to no money and no prize.
get you to give up personal
information in order to enter a
“contest”.
Where you can go for help:
● Contact FTC
● Contact a postal inspector
How to protect yourself?
● Don’t ever pay taxes, fees, or ● Report robocalls calls to the Do Not Call
shipping cost to receive a prize Registry
● Don’t provide your credit card ● Contact State Consumer Protection
number or bank account information Offices
to receive a prize
● Don’t wire money to, or deposit a
check from, any organization
claiming to run a sweepstakes or
lottery
 IRS Imposter/Tax Scam
Description
IRS imposter scams occur when someone contacts you pretending to work for the IRS or other
government agencies demanding personal info.

Why is it bad?
trick you into sending them money for taxes, penalties or fees you don't actually owe.

How can you protect yourself?

● Don't provide or confirm personal or financial information over the phone to someone who
claims to be a government official.
● Don't agree to pay a tax bill with a gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer.
Where can you go for help?
Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) if you think that an IRS
imposter has contacted you.

Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3I30ACXVJY

What is it?
Charity Scam
Often a person or a group of people
will make material representations that
they are a charity or part of a charity
and ask prospective donors for
contributions to the non-existent
charity.

What’s the damage?

Thieves can take your money with What should I do
little effort with almost no risk on ● Contact your state consumer
their part protection office
● report fraud to the fbi at
tips.fbi.gov
How to protect yourself?
Be aware of organizations
with copycat names or names
similar to reputable
Click to picture to the watch
organizations. video; learn more about
Charity Scams >>>
Ponzi Scheme
Rent to Own