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What You Should Know if You Suspect Financial Fraud

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James Allen
What You Should Know if You Suspect Financial Fraud

Every day, people lose millions of dollars to financial fraud. The most common types of this fraud include identity theft, credit card fraud, and health care fraud—and each type causes massive amounts of damage every year. If you don’t take action to protect yourself from financial fraud and make sure your finances are healthy, the amount of money you lose can compound quickly. Don’t let yourself fall victim to financial fraud; instead, educate yourself on the different types of financial fraud and what you should know about it.


Learn how financial fraud works


As you build up your financial knowledge, it’s wise to learn how fraud can happen. Being forewarned of potential scams and their red flags is a great way to protect yourself from committing errors that can cost you financially in long-term consequences. For example, if you are aware of what a Ponzi scheme looks like, then chances are you won’t fall for it when someone pitches it to you at work. If something sounds too good to be true, then there’s a good chance that it probably isn’t true – so listen to your gut instinct!


Report financial fraud


Protect yourself and others by reporting financial fraud. (See also: What Is Identity Theft?) Financial fraud covers a range of scams, from credit card theft to identity theft to Ponzi schemes. It’s no surprise that people who commit financial fraud do so for their own gain – after all, it’s basically stealing money from someone else in order to line your pockets. If you suspect financial fraud or have been a victim of it, don’t hesitate: Report financial fraud online today with Take Five’s online form or contact us for help filing your report over the phone.


Avoid scams


If you’re looking to make a career move, you might have spotted an interesting position on job boards or received a promising offer. However, before accepting any position that sounds too good to be true, do your homework. Scammers often misrepresent themselves as businesses or established organizations with official-sounding names, so it’s important to take time to research who you’re dealing with and what they can actually offer. For example, if a company that claims to be hiring for an entry-level social media coordinator never actually mentions social media in their listing and has an unprofessional email address or phone number listed online, it could be a scam.


Monitor your account


It’s important to keep tabs on your financial situation. While most companies are more than happy to help, and even have fraud departments set up specifically for monitoring accounts, it’s a good idea to become a pro at keeping track of where your money is going. Just as you’d take care of something that you own personally, it helps to take responsibility for your finances and make sure everything looks right. This can be accomplished by checking in with your bank regularly (about once a month), or checking in with financial representatives when they contact you. Whenever there's an unusual change in spending habits or any major purchases, you should know about it right away.


Take extra care online


If you’re going to be dealing with financial institutions, it’s important to take extra care online. Just like when you were a child and your parents told you not to talk to strangers, don’t give out personal information on social media, in emails or over phone calls unless you are 100% sure that the person on the other end is who they say they are. Companies will sometimes ask for financial details such as account numbers and passwords via email so that thieves can then log into your accounts without having physical access to them. It sounds obvious but if it hasn't happened yet, chances are it will eventually happen at some point. If a bank asks for your password then be skeptical; give them a call instead of sending through an email or social media message!


Know your rights


Financial fraud can be tough to spot. That’s why it’s so important to stay informed of your rights and protections as a consumer. Understanding what financial fraud is, how it affects you, and knowing what steps you can take if you believe something might be fraudulent are key to protecting yourself. Here are some things you should know about your rights when fraud takes place or is suspected of taking place:


First and foremost, know that consumers are protected against all forms of financial fraud by several laws. In most countries, you have consumer protection law at a federal level and often also at a state or provincial level. These laws can protect you against many different types of fraud – including credit card fraud, identity theft, phone scams and more. If you believe you’ve been a victim of fraud, your first step should be to contact law enforcement immediately. Your next steps will depend on what has happened to you and what legal options may be available to help resolve it for you as soon as possible.


When to Hire a Lawyer


Hiring a financial fraud lawyer can be scary, especially if you've never done it. Making sure you are connected to a great lawyer who specializes in financial fraud and related areas of law is particularly important. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out—Most law firms are more than willing to listen and are here to help!


Conclusion


The premise of financial fraud isn’t new. It’s been around for centuries, in one form or another, as people have tried to make an easy buck from their neighbors. This practice persists today because it works; even though we live in a more connected world with more information available than ever before, financial fraud is widespread and increasing. So what can you do? Educate yourself on what types of financial fraud are out there, how they work and how to spot them before you become a victim. The next time someone comes knocking at your door trying to sell some insurance or offering something that seems too good to be true—listen twice as hard as you listen normally: You might be saving yourself from becoming a statistic!

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