--- title: Are You the Victim of a Scam? description: Learn how to identify and report scams to protect yourself. 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[Videos](https://www.uslabank.com/video) - [Careers](https://www.uslabank.com/careers) ![Personal-Nav](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/USLA-Theme-2025/Images/Personal-Nav.svg) Personal Online Banking [Log In](https://web2.secureinternetbank.com/pbi_pbi1151/Login/274971101) ![Business-Nav](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/USLA-Theme-2025/Images/Business-Nav.svg) Business Online Banking [Log In](https://web2.secureinternetbank.com/EBC_EBC1151/Login/274971101/6053) # Blog [News and updates](https://www.uslabank.com/blog/tag/news-and-updates) |June 01, 2026 ### Are You the Victim of a Scam? ![](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/2026-Blog-Headers-scam-v4.png) Are you feeling a little off about a transaction or interaction you had recently? Worried you could be the victim of a scam? For your protection, if ANY of the following statements are correct, please notify a member of our staff immediately. You are responsible for everything you deposit or cash with us, including cash, checks, ACH, and wire transfers, and we want to help you protect yourself from scammers. You could be the victim of a scam and participating in a fraud scheme if you can answer yes to any of the below scenarios.   ### If Your Answer is Yes, Call Us! - You have been instructed to keep the transaction a **“secret”** or the deposit is **from an unknown source** or is **unexpected.** - You have been asked to purchase or send money via **pre-paid gift cards** / **gift card** numbers. • You were told you are paying a fine for missing **Jury Duty** or to a Law Enforcement Agency? • You were advised to put cash into an **ATM / Cryptocurrency ATM** at a convenience store? • The deposit is for **payment** or **commission** of employment from a “work at home” position, “**secret or mystery shopper**” position, or newspaper ad where you were hired online or over the telephone. - The deposit is to pay taxes and/or fees to receive other funds, such as an **inheritance** or **lottery winnings**. - The deposit is from someone you met **online** or someone you have been communicating with through **email, text or phone… someone you’ve never met in person**. - The deposit is proceeds for an item you **sold** on the **Internet**; such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc... • The amount of the deposit is **more than the selling price** of the item sold. - The deposit is from a business or individual **different** from the person buying your item or product or working for. - You have been asked to **send cash** via U.S. Mail, FedEx or UPS. - You have been instructed to **return funds** through a wire transfer, Walmart, Western Union or Money Gram as soon as possible. - You have been asked to assist in the **distribution of money** from or to another country. - You received an **email** from a business (Best Buy; Norton; Microsoft) and the email address is from @**gmail, @hotmail, @yahoo**, **@aol.com**, etc. *Individuals who assist with the movement of stolen money, money laundering, are called Money Mules. Money laundering in the United States is prosecutable by the federal government with up to 20 years in prison and up to $500,000.00 in fines.*   ### Resources Please take a moment and visit the links below for further guidance about internet-based crime dealing with the movement of stolen money, also known as money laundering. All of the below websites are safe to visit and are hosted by an entity of the U.S. Government, AARP, or another reliable organization. At the bottom is a link to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which will allow you to file an online report that can be followed up with by the FBI.   #### [**Fight Cybercrime**](https://fightcybercrime.org) Offers a description of common internet-based scam, resources for victims, as well as a reporting option.   #### **What is a Money Mule?** [What's a money mule scam? | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov)](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2020/03/whats-money-mule-scam) [Money Mule - USPIS](https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/money-mule)   #### **Overpayment / Technical Support Scams** [Tech Support Scams | Federal Trade Commission How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov)](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-tech-support-scams) [Overpayment scam - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpayment_scam)   #### **Scams on Facebook** [How do I avoid scams on Facebook? | Facebook Help Center](https://www.facebook.com/help/1674717642789671) [Top Facebook Marketplace Scams and How to Avoid Them (vpnoverview.com)](https://vpnoverview.com/privacy/social-media/facebook-marketplace-scams/)   #### **Romance Scams** Scam artists lurking on dating apps and social media made away with a record haul in 2020. Scammers lurk on dating apps and social media, striking up conversation with strangers until they build up trust to eventually ask for money. The prevalence of these types of scams has been steadily rising in recent years. [Romance Scams — FBI](https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/romance-scams) [What To Know About Romance Scams | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov)](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams) [Oil Rig Scams: How to Spot an Oil Rig Scammer Before It's Too Late - Social Catfish (Oil Rig)](https://socialcatfish.com/scamfish/oil-rig-scams/)   #### **Law Enforcement Scams (Warrant for Arrest, Jury Duty, IRS)** [Be Suspicious of Jury Duty Notices by Phone, Text or Email (aarp.org) (Jury Duty)](https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/jury-duty/) [Government Impostor Scams Are on the Rise (aarp.org) (Police Warrant)](https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/government-impostor-frauds/)   #### **Lottery / Sweepstakes / Inheritance Scams / Mystery Shopper / Car Wrap / Advance-Fee** [Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery Scams | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov)](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/fake-prize-sweepstakes-and-lottery-scams) [Inheritance scams | Scamwatch](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/real-life-stories/inheritance-scam-leo-gives-away-his-life-savings-trying-to-gain-an-inheritance) [Mystery Shopper Scam - How to Spot a Scheme | USPIS](https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/mystery-shopper-scams) [Advance-fee scam - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam) [How to spot a car wrap scam | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov)](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2016/08/how-spot-car-wrap-scam)   #### **Puppy Scam** [How does a Puppy Scam Work? - Petscams.com](https://petscams.com/news/how-does-a-puppy-scam-work/)   #### Gift Card Payment Scam [Protect Yourself and Loved Ones from Gift Card Payment Scams (aarp.org)](https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/gift-card-payment/) [Gift Card Scams | Consumer Advice](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams) [Avoiding Scams / What to Do / Common Scams Scam Alerts | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov)](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam) [AARP Scam Network](https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/)(scroll to the bottom of the web page for a detailed list of common scams) [ttps://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/](ttps://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/)   ### How to File a Complaint File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at [www.ic3.gov.](http://www.ic3.gov)   [Previous Article](https://www.uslabank.com/blog/customer-appreciation-2026) [![USLA](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/USLA-Theme-2025/images/USLA-Logo-white-RGB.svg "USLA")](https://www.uslabank.com/) - Quick Links - [Locations and Hours](https://www.uslabank.com/locations-hours) - [About Us](https://www.uslabank.com/about) - [Rates](https://www.uslabank.com/rates) - [Switch Kit](https://www.uslabank.com/switch-kit) - [Contact Us](https://www.uslabank.com/contact-us) - [Lost or Stolen Card](https://www.uslabank.com/security-center) #### Info & Policies - [Privacy Policy](https://www.uslabank.com/privacy-policy) - [USA Patriot Act](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/Patriot%20Act%20Document.pdf) - [Community Reinvestment Act](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/PDF/Community%20Reinvestment%20Act%20(CRA)%20Public%20File.pdf) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.uslabank.com/terms-and-conditions) #### Socials - [![Facebook](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/USLA-images-2025/Facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/USLAbank) - [![Youtube](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/USLA-images-2025/Youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/@USLAbank) - [![LinkedIn](https://www.uslabank.com/hubfs/USLA-images-2025/LinkedIn.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/uslabank/) Copyright © 2026 Union Savings and Loan Association. 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