When answering the phone, you hear an official-sounding voice asking for your Social Security number to ensure that payments continue. Later, a text claims that an Amazon package has been delayed — with a prompt to click a link for more information. Or, maybe someone has rung your doorbell, claiming to be either a tradesperson or a city representative, asking to check plumbing issues.
If situations such as the above happen to you, be very skeptical of any claims, as scammers operate year-round — not just during the December holiday season. Hang up on a suspicious phone call, double-check to verify the identity of a suspicious door-knocker and — above all — constantly educate yourself about scammers and their ever-changing methods. In 2021, reported fraud losses increased more than 70 percent over 2020, to more than $5.8 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
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