Protect your personal information and your money
Fraud Prevention Hub
Can you spot a scam?
Learn how fraud works and how to prevent it
Senior Scams
Learn to recognize the most common scams targeting seniors.
Protecting Yourself Online
Find out what Mountain America does to keep your data secure.
Phishing
These red flags can help you spot a scam email.
The Knights of Scamalot
Learn to defend yourself against fraud from The Utah Department of Commerce.
Podcasts & Videos
Check out our YouTube videos for money management tips and expert advice on home buying, improving your credit, investing and more.
Watch now
7 Habits to Help Avoid Fraud
Scammers are getting smarter by the day! Their one job is to get you to give them access to your financial accounts.
Beware of Imposter Scams
Things are getting a little scary in the podcast lounge. Learn strategies to protect your personal details when seeking out tech and service support.
How to Avoid Phishing Email Scams
We want to help you protect your personal information! In this segment, we’re talking about how to identify and avoid phishing emails.
SOS Scams and How to Spot Them
We know you would do anything to help someone in need, especially your family. But fraudsters are using your kindness to get you to send them money.
Common scams targeting young people
Just because teens and young adults have never known a life without digital technology, doesn’t mean they are immune to fraud.
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.
Job scam
Looking for a job? Fraudsters create fake job listings to take advantage of inexperienced job seekers. They gain access to your personal information and use it to drain your bank account.
Red flags:
- Remote work with high pay.
- Request advanced payment for training.
- Ask for personal information during “application process.”
Influencer scam
Social media influencers are a big part of the lives of Gen Z. Scammers create look-alike accounts to lure people in.
Red flags:
- Off-brand images or text.
- Winner of fake contest must pay a fee or provide bank account information to win the prize.
Romance scam
You may know this scam by another name—catfishing. It begins when a scammer steals digital images and starts a fake account, often on a dating website. They lie in wait for an unsuspecting victim to strike up a conversation.
Red flags:
- You’ve never seen them in person.
- They don’t want to video chat.
- They ask for money, over and over.
- They make you feel bad or threaten you if you refuse to pay.
Intimacy scam
Young people often have relationships that are strictly online. Sometimes, they share explicit photos or videos.
Red flags:
- Once they get one photo or video, the predator will ask for more.
- If you refuse, they threaten to post them publicly.
- They may try to traffic the explicit photos and videos or extort money from you to keep them private.
Online shopping scam
Fake websites or social media accounts are created that look like an online store selling items at a huge discount. Purchased items never arrive and there is no way to contact the supposed seller.
Red flags:
- Prices that seem too good to be true.
- Typos on website page or social post.
- Customer service contact email is a common extension like “gmail.com” or “yahoo.com.”
- Bad online reviews.
Delivery scam
Fake messages regarding a problem with the delivery of your package are texted or emailed, requesting that you contact the sender immediately or lose your purchase. These messages can look like real retailers like Amazon and others.
Red flags:
- You’re not expecting any deliveries.
- Grammar and spelling mistakes in email or text.
- If you want to confirm the details, contact the seller at a published number on their site, not through the link in the text or email.
Myth: Seniors are more at risk for fraud than young people.
Truth: It's actually just the opposite! According to the Federal Trade Commission, 44% of people ages 20 to 29 have lost money to fraud. That's more than double the 20% of seniors ages 70 to 79!
Blog articles
The more you know about how fraud works, the better you can recognize and avoid it.
Read more to educate yourself and share with others.
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Report Fraud
Please contact us if you believe you have been the victim of identity theft or if you receive a communication from Mountain America that appears suspicious.
Learn more