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Common Scams and How To Avoid Them

Consumers conduct business transactions every day. We buy cars, shop at clothing stores, use our cell phones, and pay medical bills. These transactions, more often than not, take place with legitimate businesses and without problems.

Pure scam artists are a different story. They connive and swindle consumers to make a quick profit. They sell fake products and services or promise millions of dollars for only a small investment of time or money. Consumers must be vigilant and cautious when presented with an offer that sounds too good to be true.

Common Scams

How To Avoid Scams

Wiring money is like giving cash away. If you wire money, there is no protection for you if you later learn that the recipient is not who they claimed to be.
Never give out personal or banking information in response to a phone, email or mail inquiry. Contact the entity requesting the information directly through a different method to verify that it is a reputable company with which you have an existing relationship.
Never send money to someone who you don’t know and haven’t met in person.
When purchasing items or services online, make sure you research the seller and know their physical location.
If you are giving to charity, especially in the wake of a natural disaster, give to an organization that has a strong history in providing relief. Instead of paying in cash, make a check or money order payable to the charitable organization, not an individual.
Most importantly, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Investigate the offer before accepting or paying any money.

When it comes to protecting you from scams, we’ve got you back, Arkansas.