Whether you’re a small business or an individual, there are a handful of common scams that people may try to use against you. Make sure to always do your own research on companies who contact you and beware of any communication that asks you to immediately send them money.

Debt Collection, Settlement, and Relief Scams. Some scammers may try to get you to pay for debts you don’t owe or promise to change the terms of the real debt you owe to a creditor but ultimately leave you even further in debt. Make sure to fully research the companies and debts you have and avoid doing business with companies that seem suspicious. 

Charity Scams. These scams are when someone poses as a real charity or comes up with a fake charity name to get people to donate money. They commonly increase during the holiday season or after natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Make sure to carefully research the charity through their website or a trusted third party, especially if you’re asked to make a quick online donation or to send them cryptocurrency.

Wire Fraud. Wire transfer fraud cost over $2.7 billion in 2022. To protect yourself, only send wire instructions via fax, phone, or in person, rather than unsecured email. Scammers might try to impersonate legitimate companies to trick you into making fraudulent transfers, so be especially wary if there are last minute changes to wiring instruction.

If you aren’t sure if a request for funds is legitimate, do your own research on the company or call the person the message claims to be from to independently confirm the request. Be especially wary of any requests that are last minute, apparently urgent, or through non-refundable exchanges such as wire transfers or gift cards.