During this coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, scammers may try to take advantage of you through false information and scare formulas. They might contact you by phone, email, postal mail, text, or social media channels. Shield your money and your identity by not giving your information like your bank account number, the Social Security number, or date of birth.

Telephone scammers may try to steal your money or pieces of information. Fraud may come through phone calls from real people, robotic calls, or text messages. The callers often make false promises, such as opportunities to buy products, investment of your money, or get free product trials. They sometimes also offer you money through free grants and lotteries. You can receive calls with threats of jail or lawsuits if you do not pay them but please do not fall for these scammers.

Banking scams are all about attempts to access your bank account. Utilize this information to recognize, report, and protect yourself from them.

Census scams occur when someone portrays themselves to work for the Census Bureau and steals your information. Use this information to learn how these scams work, and protect yourself against them.

Government grant scammers trying to get your money by guaranteeing you a grant for costs like college or home repairs. They ask for your checking account information. With it, they say they will "deposit the grant money into your account" or withdraw a “one-time processing fee.” In reality, government grants are rarely awarded to individuals. They usually go to the state and local governments, universities, and other organizations. The money is awarded to help pay for research and projects that benefit the public.

Investment scams promise high returns, without financial risk. Use this information to report and protect your investments.