Financial Scams to Avoid in 2021 and Onward

Bank scams are a prevalent means for criminals to get personal and financial information from people. Consumers lodged over 2 million complaints about financial scams in 2021. Here are some of the most common and devious methods used to steal money from people that involve banks.

Phishing

This scam utilizes emails and text messages containing links to a bogus site that prompts users for login credentials to their financial accounts. These are some of the most well-known types of online scams because they reach millions of people at a time. In 2019, the FBI reported that over $57 million was lost to criminals due to this type of scam. These messages often get your attention by warning of suspicious activity on your account, and they will urge you to log in to verify your identity and secure your account.

Government Scam

Another common tactic, especially during the tax filing season, is messages that claim to be from a government agency. The message will link a site masquerading as an official government gateway and prompt users to provide personal information. Another common tactic is communication about a debt to the government, and they demand that the user pay now with a credit card to avoid prosecution and jail time.

Fake Employer

In this scam, criminals prey on job seekers, claiming to offer work if users provide bank information that enables them to make deposits into an account. Of course, they remove your funds rather than submit payments. Most of these scams are done via email, but they also occur over voice phone lines and physical mail.

Check Cashing

This scam is often perpetrated in person when someone is entering the bank. The criminal accosts you and asks you to cash a check for them, claiming they don’t have a bank account and need your help. This scheme targets people’s sense of empathy toward those in need. You pay the person the cash, but then the check ends up being fraudulent, and the funds are held against your bank balance.

There are many scams, but people can avoid falling victim by exercising some simple precautions. In general, if you haven’t initiated a transaction of your own accord, don’t proceed to process any bank information. Never click links in an email unless you verify that the linked site is genuine. In most cases, a scam will make you feel uneasy, and your instincts should warn you to steer away from it.

This blog/website is only made available for educational purposes. It is designed to give visitors general information and a general understanding of select financial topics. It is not intended to provide specific financial or investment advice. Conduct your own due diligence or consult a licensed financial advisor/broker before making any and all financial/investment decisions.

About Saagar Gupta

Saagar Gupta is the founding partner and fund manager of SG3 Capital, a private investment firm located in Puerto Rico. Since inception in 2015, SG3 Capital has focused on taking a proactive approach to asset management. One of the firm’s greatest strengths is its ability to form strategic partnerships with other firms and individuals who share a passion for finance and helping others achieve their financial goals.

After graduating from high school in Oakland, California, Saagar Gupta got his first exposure to finance at the hedge fund Ascend Capital as an intern. Although he had already enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Saagar loved the experience so much that he briefly considered skipping MIT and working at the hedge fund full-time. After graduating from MIT with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Saagar worked at Susquehanna International Group where he learned a lot about the finance industry and how to effectively manage capital. In 2010, Saagar moved from Philadelphia to New York City to become a quantitative trader at HAP Capital. After about four years at HAP Capital, Saagar decided to spend a few months travelling to Europe with his young but growing family. He had several new opportunities he was considering, but the idea to start SG3 Capital came to him while he was in a small town in Italy, and the freedom of working for himself has been life-changing.