Hey there! We all know how scary and stressful it can feel when something urgent pops up, especially if someone’s calling you about it. Scammers love to take advantage of that instinct to help, and they’ll do anything to trick you into handing over money.
Here are a few common emergency scams to watch out for:
1.Immigration scam
Navigating the whole visa or citizenship process can be tricky, and scammers know that. They’ll call pretending to be immigration officials and claim there’s an issue with your paperwork. They’ll threaten you with deportation unless you send money right away.
Keep in mind that real immigration services will never call and ask for personal details over the phone. If someone’s asking for money and making threats, hang up! If you ever get a call like this, check the official website for immigration services to confirm the next steps. To learn more about this kind of scam, check out our immigration fraud blog.
2. Business email compromise (BEC) scam
This one is sneaky! Scammers pretend to be someone from your work, like a boss or a colleague, and ask you to wire money for a “business expense.” They might sound totally legit, but it’s all a trick.
If you get a sudden request for money from someone at work, double-check with them or someone else in the office before doing anything. Scammers rely on making you act fast without thinking, so slow down and make sure it’s real.
3. Tax scam
The tax season can be stressful, and scammers know it. They’ll call pretending to be from the government, saying you owe money and threatening to arrest you if you don’t pay right now. They might even ask for a money transfer!
Here’s the thing: government agencies almost never call you about your taxes. They send official letters in the mail, not texts, emails, or calls. If someone’s demanding immediate payment, it’s a scam. Always double-check before making any payments.
4. Grandparent scam
This scam targets older people, especially grandparents. The scammer will pretend to be a family member in trouble and say they need money urgently for bail or medical bills.
But there’s no emergency at all! The real grandchild is safe. The scammer just wants the money. If you ever get a call like this, don’t panic. Take down the number, but don’t act right away. Contact your loved one or other family members to make sure everything’s okay. To learn more about this kind of scam, check out our immigration fraud blog.
What to do If you get a scam call:
- Don’t act right away. Take a deep breath and think it through.
- Write down the number, but don’t send money until you verify it’s real.
- Contact the person the scammer claims to be or other family members to check if it’s true.
- If the call sounds fishy, it probably is. Trust yourself!
If you or someone you know falls for a scam and sends money via Western Union, don’t wait! Report it ASAP by calling the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 1-800-448-1492. It’s always better to report it and stop others from falling for it.
#BeFraudSmart: Knowledge is power! You’ve got this. For more tips and information on how to keep yourself safe from immigration scams, check our website.
