- Unsolicited contact: Scammers often reach out to individuals unsolicited through phone calls, emails, or social media messages.
- High-pressure tactics: Scammers may use high-pressure tactics to make you feel like you need to act quickly. They may also use threats or intimidation to get you to comply.
- Request for personal information: Scammers may ask for personal information, such as your Social Security number, credit card information, or bank account information.
- Unusual payment requests: Scammers may ask for payment in an unusual way, such as through wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
- Too good to be true offers: Scammers may offer you deals that seem too good to be true, such as a job with a high salary or a vacation package at an unusually low price.
- Poor grammar and spelling: Scammers often use poor grammar and spelling in their messages, which can be a red flag.
- Impersonation of authority figures: Scammers may impersonate authority figures, such as government officials or law enforcement, to make their requests seem more legitimate.
- Suspicious links or attachments: Scammers may send you links or attachments that seem suspicious or contain malware.
- False sense of urgency: Scammers may try to create a false sense of urgency to make you act quickly, such as by saying you’ll lose out on a limited-time offer.
- Lack of transparency: Scammers may not provide clear information about their identity or the purpose of their request.