Scam – The Big Words Blog Site

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Health/Wellness. Many people are being scammed today. Once it happens, it can be very stressful and it may not be clear how to resolve the situation. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Steps To Take After Being Scammed.

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Maintaining your personal and household finances can be tricky, especially with the rising cost of living and other expenses that often come out of nowhere. However, there is another issue that can impact your finances. Scams and fraud are still prevalent, and they are becoming more sophisticated, making it challenging for the most careful people to recognize them. If you’ve been a victim of a scam and are unsure what steps to take, consider this advice.

Gather All Your Information

You will need to make a claim following a scam or fraudulent experience, but if you want this to be successful, you must collect as much information as possible. This information can be bank statements, receipts, and orders along with any correspondence you have had with the person who scammed you. If others have been involved, such as family members who also dealt directly with the fraudster, they may need to write a statement.

Secure Your Accounts and Details

Although it may feel too late for you to prevent the scam, you can still take vital steps that will prevent it from getting worse. As soon as you realize something is amiss, you must secure your accounts and details by changing passwords or adding two-factor authentication. This is a crucial step to take that will improve your online security and minimize the risk of more damage being done to your finances.

Inform Your Bank and Other Organization

The quicker you act, the sooner you can get to the bottom of any problems, so you’ll need to get in touch with your bank and any other organizations that may have been affected by the scam. If you let your bank know that whoever is making these purchases isn’t you, you can mitigate further damage. This also helps build your case if or when you try to take the matter to court.

Get In Touch With Legal Services

Specialized legal services like Nathan DeLadurantey Attorney can help consumers receive compensation for scams and other types of dishonesty by businesses or vendors. You don’t want to tackle this issue alone, especially if there is a considerable amount of money involved. Therefore, speaking to a professional and experienced firm will give you the confidence and tools you need to win your case.

Share Your Experience

It may seem like it’s too late for you, but you can still help friends and family avoid the same fate by sharing your experiences with them. Social media can be a powerful tool to protect other consumers from scams, especially if it seems as if the scammers are targeting people within the community. The more people that are aware of these problems, the easier it will be to deter them and hopefully zero in on who is responsible.

Never Again

Scams can happen to anyone. Even if you feel you are diligent at all times, it only takes a lapse in judgment to put your finances and identity at risk. However, knowing there are policies in [place to help you overcome the damages caused by scams can help you avoid significant problems and it should help you protect others, too.

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Something that can disrupt all of forms of our personal health is fraud. It’s important to know how to proceed, should you become a victim of fraud. The following contributed post is entitled, What To Do If You’ve Been A Victim Of Fraud.

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Scams and fraud are very upsetting to fall victim too and can cause can you real problems with your finances and credit. A lot of money is being spent on preventing fraud, but what happens if you’ve already been a victim? Is there a way that you can get restitution? If you’ve been a victim of fraud or a scam, here’s what to do.

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Report The Scam

A lot of victims of fraud never report it, perhaps because they feel embarrassed, feel it’s pointless, or just don’t know where to report it. However, reporting is important as it establishes accurate statistics on the number of people who have been affected and to help law enforcement identify patterns. Start by reporting it to the police (this is essential if you want to make an insurance claim on stolen property). Report any compromised credit or debit cards to the card issuer. You can also call the AARP Fraud Watch Network hotline for advice on what to do next, whether you’ve fallen for a scam or are a victim of negligent misrepresentation.

Think Locally

This should be done even if you’ve been acted on globally. For most scams that involve goods and services (for example nonexistent vacation properties), start by contacting your state attorney general’s office, your local and state consumer protection agencies, or the Better Business Bureau. You could also reach out to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Match The Agency To The Crime

If the fraud you’ve been a victim of violates federal law, there is likely to be a government agency that handles it. You can find a list at usa.gov, and the relevant crime to report there, from income tax debt collection fraud to income tax refund fraud. A good place to start is the Federal Trade Commission.

Focus On Emotional Healing

Federal agencies very rarely track down the perpetrators of crimes against individual people. Instead, they use complaints to record patterns of abuse, which allows them to take action against a company or industry. Fraud often has a global nature, so victims should be realistic about their chances of legal redress. It’s unlikely reporting it will bring you much satisfaction so it’s important to focus on emotional recovery. Try not to feel angry with yourself for falling for a scam, and instead ask friends and family for support in helping you move past it.

Anyone can be a victim of fraud or a scam, and you don’t have to be gullible to be taken in. If you have been a victim, try to react quickly in order to protect your finances as fast as possible. Report the crime to help law enforcement protect others from being a victim to the same scam that you fell for, and make sure you take any needed steps to block and replace credit and debit cards. In the future, learn to spot the signs of a scam, so you’re less likely to be a victim in the future.