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SECURITY CENTER

How to spot fraud and scams

Scammers may be sophisticated, but working together, we can help stay ahead of them.

Know what’s happening: Scammers are getting more resourceful and convincing every day

 

The 'great sale on your favorite brand' scam

 

Scammers create ads on social media offering merchandise at great prices and set up bogus websites that all look exactly like genuine retailers. They’ll collect personal information or ask you to pay with a digital payment platform like Zelle® when you go to “check out”.

 

How it can happen:

I was scrolling on social and saw a sale ad for one of my favorite brands. It looked just like other ads I’d bought from before. The discount was really good, so I clicked on it and went to what looked exactly like their website, even with the free shipping headline.

 

When I went to check out, I thought it was odd I couldn’t find a place for my credit card, just options for digital payment platforms like Zelle®. But I thought no big deal and paid with Zelle®. I got suspicious when I didn’t get a confirmation email right away like I usually do. I waited about three weeks, but the merchandise never showed up. I tried to put in a claim for fraud with my bank, but I was told there’s no way to get my money back.

 

Help protect yourself

 

Always type in a company’s website address yourself to see if special sales or promo codes are listed there. If not, the ad you’re seeing and the website it’s taking you to are likely a scam. Where possible use your credit or debit card which offers protection features that may not be there if you pay by other means.


 

Watch out for the latest tech support and computer virus scams

 

Scammers pretend to be tech support from a well-known company. They either call, text or try to trick you into clicking on a link in an email, text or pop-up window, claiming there’s a problem with your computer like a virus or a billing issue. To fix it, you inadvertently give them remote access to your computer.

 

How it can happen:

I got a giant yellow “alert” that covered my computer screen, saying my computer had been hacked. My cursor was even moving on its own, so something definitely seemed wrong. Another alert appeared that looked legitimately from the same brand as my computer, telling me to call the tech support line.

 

The man who answered was very professional and said they’d been seeing this attack happening a lot lately. He had me go to a website that had all sorts of cyber security information on it and click on a link. He said it would let him see my screen to gauge how bad the attack was. He had me sign into some unimportant websites like a movie site and my pet store. He said everything looked fine, but I should sign into my bank account to also check it. He said he couldn’t see my password as it showed up with just those dots in the password field. I told him there were no unusual transactions on my account, so he said it looked like it was all a false alarm and hung up.

 

Little did I know, that when I gave him remote access to my computer, he was able to see everything I typed. The scammers later signed into my bank account and transferred thousands out.

 

Help protect yourself

 

Scammers know “virus alerts” immediately put computer users into a panic. Never click on virus alerts, even if they look like they come from your computer company or an anti-virus protection company. If you think your computer was impacted, talk to a reputable service provider.


Scam alert: Check fraud

 

Be careful when using checks

What's happening?

 

Scammers can steal your written checks from your mailbox, or if you deposit them but don't dispose of them properly. Then, they can use chemicals to erase and rewrite checks to themselves, sell your personal info or use it to create counterfeit checks.

 

Consider using other ways to pay, including Chase Online℠ Bill Pay, Zelle® and your Chase debit card.

If you write a check, remember these tips:

  • Use a permanent pen so the information is hard to erase.
  • Make sure to fill out the payee and dollar amount space completely or draw a line to the end of the space. Also, sign your checks the same way every time.
  • Mail your check from inside the post office.
  • Use Chase Mobile® app to monitor your accounts and verify the payee and amount of the check matches what you originally wrote.

 

Knowing about scammers' tricks can help you stay one step ahead of them

 

Here are some of the latest schemes to avoid:

Watch out for scammers impersonating banks

 

What's happening?

A scammer calls or texts pretending to be from Chase and says you need to send money to another account using a wire transfer. They may claim it’s to reverse fraud on your account. Don’t fall for it – it’s a scam!

 

We will never ask you to send money to yourself.

 

Tips to help you stay safe:

  • Know who you're talking to: You can verify that you're speaking with us by hanging up and calling the number on the back of your Chase card or your account statement.
  • Take a moment: Think about what they're asking for, and verify they are who they say they are, especially if it feels urgent or pressured — it could be a scam.
  • Be careful when sending money: It's important to verify you're not sending money to a scammer. Once you send money you may not be able to get it back.

 

Keep tabs on common scams

 

To help protect yourself, always be suspicious of calls, emails, texts or any communication you receive from someone you don't know — particularly if they want money or your personal information. See below for examples of common scams and tips to be more secure.

 

For sale, hot deal

 

"Get a great price on these exclusive sneakers. You can pay using cash or a payment app."

 

TIP: Be wary of great "deals" on social media sites. Once you send money you may not get it back.

 

Someone you 'know'

 

"I'm with the IRS, and you owe back taxes. If not paid immediately, a lawsuit will be filed against you."

 

TIP: Be cautious if you’re told to take action right away. Think about what they’re asking for and verify that they are who they say they are.

 

'Accidental' payment

 

"I didn't mean to send you that money! Please send it back to me right away."

 

TIP: Never return any unexpected funds without calling Chase first.

 

Romance

 

"I'm having a medical emergency and need money. I promise to pay it back quickly. Can you help?"

 

TIP: Don't send money to anyone you've only spoken to online or by phone.

 

Computer virus

 

"We've detected malware on your computer. Give me access remotely so I can fix that for you."

 

TIP: Never give anyone remote access to your computer unless you can 100% verify who they are.

 

ATM withdrawals

 

"Hey, don't forget to use the tap feature on the ATM. I can show you how it works."

 

TIP: Don't accept help from strangers at the ATM. Pay attention to your surroundings and watch out for people looking at your screen.

 

You've won!

 

"Congratulations! You've won the lottery! We will need to collect taxes prior to your payment."

 

TIP: Do not send money to claim a prize. Chances are it's a scam.

 

Home closing

 

"These are the wire instructions to close on your house."

 

TIP: Be very cautious of last-minute changes to payment instruction and call your agent or loan officer directly to verify wire instructions before you send money.

 

Investment

 

"You've registered to receive notifications on investment opportunities. Are you ready to invest? I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

 

TIP: Research the person or company you're dealing with, and make sure they're legitimate.

 

Learn to recognize 'spoofing' and 'phishing'

Scammers will try to trick you into giving them your passwords, Social Security number or other sensitive information to get access to your accounts or steal your identity.

 

They could do this through a call, email, text or fake websites. Learn more about their methods and how to protect yourself.

 

Spoofing: Look out for scammers in disguise

Scammers can "spoof" phone numbers. The caller ID can say the call or text is from Chase even though it's not. They do this to trick people into providing their personal or financial information or to get you to send money.

 

Remember:

Even if your caller ID says a call or text is from Chase, it could be a scam. When in doubt hang up and call us directly.

Phishing: Watch out for suspicious calls, emails and texts

"Phishing" is when you get an email that looks reputable but asks you to call a fraudulent number, respond to the email or go to a website and enter personal information. You may be asked to look at an attachment, which then gives bad actors access to your computer if you open it.

 

Remember:

Suspicious messages may have typos or grammatical mistakes. Don't click on links or attachments in an email if you're not sure who it's from.

 

You can report a suspicious email to us by reporting it to phishing@chase.com.

 

You may also want to report suspicious calls, emails, and text messages by visiting, https://ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Think you've been the victim of identity theft?

It is important to take action quickly. Read our guide to take your first steps toward recovering your identity.

Contact us to report fraud

If you see an unauthorized charge or believe your account was compromised, let us know right away. Learn what to do and how to contact us.

 

Let's work together to help protect you and those you love

Reporting fraud

 

If you see an unauthorized charge or believe your account was compromised, let us know right away. Learn what to do and how to contact us.

How we help protect you

 

We're working to make your banking safer. See how we're helping to protect you and your accounts.

What you can do to help protect yourself

 

Learn safety practices and the steps you can take to help protect yourself from fraud and scams.

Help protect your money as you age

 

Recognize the signs of financial abuse and exploitation. Get the tools you need to help you stay safe.

Help guard yourself against online threats

 

Many of us rely on technology to store and access financial information. Learn about the online do's and don'ts to help stay protected.

Frequently asked questions

Reach out to local law enforcement. Supply all the information you can including, exact dates, times and account numbers. You can give a copy of the police report to creditors as evidence of fraud.  You should also review your credit reports carefully and ask the credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert or credit freeze in your credit file.

 

You may also want to report fraud as well as confirmed cases of identity theft to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Each situation is different but if you think you’ve given the scammer account information, please contact the company or financial institution to help assess your situation.

JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) does not buy, sell, or exchange Iraqi dinar (IQD) banknotes and currently has no plans to offer this service in the future. You may have read or have heard that Chase Bank buys, sells or exchanges this currency, this information is incorrect. You may have been also told that JPMC is opening branches and offices in Iraq to aid in the revaluation process, this information is also incorrect.

 

We urge you to seek the advice of your professional investment advisor before making any investments. You should always consult with professionals prior to joining any investment schemes you may have heard about through the internet, and before you send any money to people claiming to facilitate the purchase of any foreign currencies.

 

Multiple local agencies, state agencies, major financial institutions, and consumer protection groups have warned that this recent behavior is a scam. Currently the Federal Bureau of Investigations and The Internal Revenue Service are investigating.

It's difficult to recover money that you willingly sent (an "authorized purchase"), even if you were tricked into doing so. In this situation, our representatives will work with you to figure out the best way forward.

Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your consent to take your money, open credit accounts and more.

Review our identity theft kit (PDF) and take action to protect yourself.