How To Avoid Scams

Fraudsters Are Already At Work

The Denver District Attorney’s office is cautioning people to stay on the alert for scams.

After a March announcement that the federal government would send $1,200 to every adult in the U.S., fraudsters quickly got to work, including asking people by phone and email to provide their Social Security numbers or bank account information to expedite receipt of the check.

“Unfortunately, millennials are the most susceptible to this scam,” said Spokeswoman Carolyn Tyler. “Additionally, 20 to 30-year olds are less skeptical of things online. They are more inclined to click on something [which could link to malware or Trojans] versus opening another window and manually typing in the site URL.”

Bottom line, if anyone calls or emails claiming they are from the government and asks for your personal information, don’t give it to them. First, the government will never call for this information. Second, as of press time the federal government has not notified the public how or when any checks would be sent to individuals, and so any caller claiming to have information is a scammer. Finally, in the event that checks are sent, people will not have to pay any fees or charges to get them.

If you suspect you’ve been scammed, call the DA’s fraud hotline to report it. The number is 720-913-9179.

— Cara DeGette