If you have been scammed
Report it immediately to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, the Washington State Attorney General at atg.wa.gov, and your local police department. If you sent money by wire transfer, contact your bank immediately. If you sent gift cards, contact the gift card issuer immediately.
Grandparent Scam
A caller pretends to be a grandchild (or a lawyer or police officer calling on behalf of a grandchild) who is in trouble — arrested, in a car accident, or stranded abroad — and urgently needs money wired or sent via gift cards. The caller begs the grandparent not to tell other family members. This is one of the most common scams targeting elderly people. If you receive such a call, hang up and call your grandchild directly at a number you already have.
IRS / Social Security Impersonation Scam
A caller claims to be from the IRS or Social Security Administration and tells you that you owe back taxes, that your Social Security number has been suspended, or that you will be arrested if you do not pay immediately. The IRS and SSA do not call people demanding immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If you receive such a call, hang up. You can report it to the IRS at 1-800-366-4484 or the SSA Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271.
Romance Scam
A scammer creates a fake online profile on a dating site or social media platform and develops a relationship with the victim over weeks or months. Once trust is established, the scammer invents a crisis — a medical emergency, a business deal gone wrong, a need to travel — and asks for money. Romance scams cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars per year. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reports that people over 60 lose more money to romance scams than any other age group.
Tech Support Scam
A pop-up message or phone call claims that your computer has a virus and instructs you to call a toll-free number for help. The "tech support" agent then asks for remote access to your computer and either installs malware, steals personal information, or charges hundreds of dollars for fake repairs. Microsoft, Apple, and Google do not send unsolicited pop-ups or call you about computer problems. If you see such a pop-up, close your browser. If you cannot, restart your computer.
Medicare / Health Insurance Scam
Scammers call Medicare beneficiaries and offer free medical equipment, tests, or services in exchange for their Medicare number. They then bill Medicare for services never rendered. Your Medicare number is as sensitive as your Social Security number — never give it to anyone who contacts you unsolicited. Report Medicare fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Lottery / Prize Scam
You receive a letter, email, or phone call telling you that you have won a lottery or sweepstakes. To claim your prize, you must pay taxes, fees, or customs charges in advance. There is no prize. You will never recover the money you send. A legitimate lottery does not require you to pay anything to collect your winnings.
Deed / Title Fraud
Deed fraud (also called home title theft) occurs when a scammer forges your signature on a deed and transfers your property to themselves or a third party without your knowledge. They may then take out a mortgage on the property or sell it. Washington State homeowners can protect themselves by monitoring their property records through the county assessor's website and by purchasing title insurance. King County property records: kingcounty.gov/depts/assessor.
Estate / Probate Scam
Scammers target recently bereaved families with offers to help settle the estate, locate assets, or handle probate — for a large upfront fee or a percentage of the estate. Some scammers pose as attorneys or financial advisors. Always verify the credentials of anyone offering estate or probate services. In Washington State, you can verify an attorney's license at the Washington State Bar Association website: wsba.org.
Charity Scam
After a natural disaster or other tragedy, scammers create fake charities to solicit donations. Before donating, verify the charity at Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), GuideStar (candid.org), or the Washington State Charities Program (sos.wa.gov/charities). Never donate by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency.
Investment / Ponzi Scheme
Investment fraud takes many forms — Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, pump-and-dump stock schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud. Common warning signs: guaranteed high returns with little or no risk; pressure to invest quickly; unregistered investments; unlicensed sellers. Report investment fraud to the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (dfi.wa.gov) or the SEC (sec.gov/tcr).
Where to Report Scams