Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to separate you from your hard-earned money. Whether claiming to be a charitable organization seeking donations following a disaster, posing as law enforcement to extort money to keep from going to prison, or seeking your personal information so they can deliver a prize you’ve won, they all depend on your emotions and naivety.

As Hurricane Ida recovery efforts continue, our hearts go out to the many victims that have lost loved ones, lost their homes or are stranded without electricity or running water. On Friday there was still 189,000 customers without electricity in Louisiana alone, and it could be weeks more before they are all back online. As these victims work hard to dig out from under the wreckage, scammers are working just as hard to come up with a way to take advantage of your sympathies. Scam charities have been reported in Oklahoma and elsewhere in the nation.

If you seriously want to help, please reach out to a reputable charity. If you’re uncertain, one good way to find a trusted organization is to visit the Better Business Bureau’s give.org website, the charitynavigator.org website, the charitywatch. org website, or the guidestar.org website to help you decide where you think your donation will be the most helpful.

Another recent scam reported by the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association involves a scammer claiming to be with their association and spoofing their phone number telling citizens they have a warrant and need to meet them at a bank or pay over the phone. A similar scam involves a call that claims to be from the IRS and informs the victim they owe money and they to pay it with a pre-paid card.

In both cases, the police or IRS would never cold call to collect a fine or penalty. You should always contact an organization or service before agreeing to pay a penalty instead of giving in to your fears.

Variations on the prize winner scam have also been reported in the area. One of these variations asks to pay shipping or handling fees, processing fees, or taxes before your prize can be delivered. Another variation claims your chances of winning will increase if you pay a “small fee.” Yet another version requires the winner to give their bank account or credit card number. A legitimate organization would never ask for this type of information.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter issued a consumer alert concerning phone calls claiming to be from the Social Security Administration telling individuals their social security number has been suspended because of suspicious activity or has been involved in a crime. The caller will then request the victim to confirm their social security number so they can reactive it.

In other instances, scammers will tell their victims their bank account is about to be seized. In order to keep it safe, the individual needs to put money on a gift card and give them the codes.

Attorney General Hunter said scam phone calls are extremely hard to trace and the best course of action is to hang up the phone.

“Oklahomans need to be on high alert about this growing, deceitful scam,” Hunter said. “If they receive phone calls with someone claiming to be with the SSA and asking for their social security number or money, they need to hang up the phone immediately. Authorities with the SSA will never call an individual requesting information or money over the phone.

“Although my office welcomes consumers to file complaints, the best action individuals can take is to learn about these scams and be informed to prevent loss.”

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) recently announced they’ve become aware that some claimants have received letters in the mail from scammers posing as the agency. These scam efforts are similar to those that individuals may have encountered online or over the phone. They encourage people who have received correspondence that seems suspicious to report it to OESC so their team can investigate the origin.

If you believe you have been contacted by a scammer claiming to be OESC, whether through the mail, phone or online, it is advised to not provide any personal or claim information until you have contacted OESC directly and independently of that correspondence. Anyone with questions about communication they receive that claim to be from OESC can confirm if this is fraud by speaking with a representative on the main phone line (405) 525-1500 or staff at regional offices around the state.

Although it’s easy to think YOU would never fall for this kind of scam, be aware many of these crooks are extremely skilled at being convincing. If you believe someone is attempting to scam you, report it to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission at the ftc.gov website. Your report will help save others from being taken advantage of by these crooks.