3 Different Types of Fraud
Millions of people are victims of fraud every day in the United States alone. Yet, surprisingly, only a small amount of people are ever aware of what has happened to them. Since there are so many different kinds of fraud, a lot of people never see it coming. One of the best ways to arm yourself against being a victim of fraud is to know what kinds of fraud people commit.
Take a look at some of the most common fraud schemes and what you can do to protect yourself from scams.
Disguised Emails
It’s not uncommon for people to receive emails from malicious people disguised as someone in need or someone in a position of power. A thief may write you a letter pretending to be your bank manager or even relative, and ask for your personal details.
Some people have such good hearts that they give their details without a second thought. When coming across a letter like one of these, it’s important to take a few steps. First, notice the sender’s address. If they claim to be a business you’re subscribed to or have an account with, notice the address’s characters. If there are any suspicious characters in their address or it has nothing to do with the business’s name they’re claiming to be, this should serve as a red flag.
Identity Theft
Unfortunately, identity theft is one of the most dangerous forms of fraud and shows no signs of slowing down. Criminals target your identity by looking in places like your mail and finding out your information. Once they have a few pieces of information about you, they can start cracking into various parts of your life from your banking to your private emails. The good news is that it’s completely preventable by covering your tracks.
Always be careful about where you put your mail, and who you allow to access your computer. Always shred your sensitive documents and change your passwords regularly.
Insurance Fraud
Many individuals are victims of health insurance fraud, believing they’re covered for things that they aren’t in fact covered for. They believe that they’re paying a monthly sum to protect their well-being only to find that when they do fall ill or require a procedure, that it’s not covered whatsoever.
While it typically happens to unsuspecting senior citizens, it can happen to anyone if they’re not careful about who they sign contracts with. Always be careful about who you give your information to and never over the phone to someone who has called you.
If someone does call you asking for your information, you should ask for their name and a call back number. Check that the call back number matches the one listed online. If it’s not the same, you know you’re being targeted.