Spotting Scams & Protecting Yourself: Stay One Step Ahead

At Northfield Bank, your financial safety is our top priority. As technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics used by scammers. Being informed is one of the best ways to stay protected. Below are common scam types and tips to help you recognize and avoid them. 

🛍️ The “Too-Good-to-Be-True” Online Sale

The scam: Scammers create realistic-looking advertisements on social media that lead to fake websites mimicking your favorite brands. At checkout, you may only see options for digital payments like Zelle. After paying, the product never arrives and the money can’t be recovered. 

Protect yourself:

• Always type a retailer's website directly into your browser.
• Use credit cards for added fraud protection.
• Avoid deals that seem too good to be true (because they probably are).

🧰 Fake Home Services

The scam: Fraudsters post ads for cleaning, repairing, or handyman services. They will request a deposit through a payment app and then vanish.

Protect yourself:

• Research service providers and read verified reviews.
• Avoid paying in full before the work begins.
• Use secure, traceable payment methods.

🎭 Impersonation Scams

The scam: Scammers pose as representatives from trusted companies, sending official-looking emails or texts with urgent requests or links. They will try to trick you into making transfers or sending money. 

Protect yourself:

• Do not click links in unsolicited messages.
• Verify identities by contacting the company using official contact information.
• Never share personal information without confirming who you’re talking to.

🏠 Rental Property & Real Estate Scams

The scam: A dream apartment or home is listed at a suspiciously low price. You're then asked for a deposit before seeing the property, which turns out to be fake.

Protect yourself:

• Insist on seeing a property (in person or live video).
• Be wary of listings without detailed photos or direct contact with the owner or agent.
• Do not wire money or pay via cash apps for sight-unseen rentals.

👮‍♂️ Police & Government Threats

The scam: You receive a call claiming to be from law enforcement or a government agency, pressuring you to pay immediately to avoid arrest or legal action.

Protect yourself:

• Legitimate agencies do not demand payments over the phone.
• Never share your Social Security number or banking details without verification.
• Take a breath (scammers want you to act fast and skip logic).

🐾 Pet Sale Scams

The scam: Scammers post fake listings of pets for sale. They request a deposit to secure the animal before someone else does. Then they will either stop responding or keep asking you for more money to “cover new costs.”

Protect yourself:

• Be cautious if prices seem too low.
• Avoid paying for a pet you haven't seen in person or via live video.
• Look for legitimate breeders or shelters with physical locations.

🖥️ Tech Support Scams

The scam: You get a pop-up or call saying your computer is infected. You're asked to give remote access, which leads to stolen data and bank fraud.

Protect yourself:

• Do not click suspicious pop-ups.
• Never allow remote access unless you initiate the support request.
• Contact a reputable tech support company directly if you are unsure.

🆔 Identity Theft Scams

The scam: Scammers are always looking for ways to get your personal information—like your birth date, Social Security number, bank account details, or even usernames and passwords. If they succeed, they can use your identity to commit fraud: opening credit cards, taking out loans, stealing from your accounts, or even renting a home in your name.

Protect yourself:

• Never share sensitive information unless you're 100% sure who you're dealing with.
• Shred personal documents before discarding.
• Use strong passwords and monitor your credit reports regularly.
• Be cautious of anyone asking for personal info over the phone, email, or text.

🐷 Pig Butchering Scam

The scam: The scammer pretends to be a new friend or love interest and eventually encourages you to invest in what looks like a legitimate cryptocurrency platform. In reality, the scammer controls the fake platform and once you’ve deposited your money they disappear.

Protect yourself:

• Be wary of online strangers pushing investment opportunities.
• Do not download apps or visit websites someone randomly sends you.
• Consult a trusted financial advisor before making any investments.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence Scams

The scam: Fraudsters clone the voice of a loved one and make a phone call pretending they’re in trouble or danger. The voice sounds so convincing that victims are often tricked into sending money immediately.

Protect yourself:

• If you get a call from a loved one in distress, hang up and call them back directly.
• Set up a family code word or phrase for emergencies.
• Always verify before sending money (no matter how urgent the situation sounds).

💼 Fake Job Offers (Money Mule Scams)

The scam: Scammers post fake job listings and trick jobseekers into transferring money as part of the “job,” often from stolen accounts. Victims are unknowingly used as “money mules” to move illegal funds.

Protect yourself:

• Be suspicious of job offers that require handling money early on.
• Research companies thoroughly and verify all contacts.
• Never accept funds or make transfers on someone else’s behalf.

🧾 Check Fraud

The scam: Fraudsters steal checks from mailboxes. They then “wash” them to erase original information and rewrite them for themselves.

Protect yourself:

• Use permanent ink and fill out checks completely.
• Mail checks from secure USPS locations.
• Monitor your account and review check activity regularly.

💳 Gift Card & Wire Transfer Scams

The scam: You are told to pay for something urgent with a gift card or wire transfer. This is often tied with a story involving an emergency, romance, or prize win.

Protect yourself:

• Gift cards are for gifts, not payments.
• Never wire money to someone you don’t know personally.
• If pressured to act quickly, take a moment to verify.

📲 Phishing & Spoofing

The scam: Scammers spoof real phone numbers or emails, posing as your bank or a trusted organization. Their goal is to trick you into revealing sensitive information like login credentials, account numbers, or personal data.

Protect yourself:

• Legitimate companies will never ask you to send money to yourself or share your account passwords.
  
  
• If something feels suspicious (it probably is). Contact the company directly using a verified phone number or website.
  Be on the lookout for poor grammar, urgent language, or unfamiliar links. These are common red flags in phishing attempts.

Scams can happen to anyone. By staying informed and recognizing the warning signs, you’re already taking a key step toward protecting yourself. Always trust your instincts and if something feels off, take a moment to verify before acting.