Fraud Prevention

What it is: Fake charities that pop up after disasters or tragedies to exploit generosity.
Protect yourself: Donate directly through known, verified organizations. Avoid pressure to give immediately.

What it is: Fraud involving fake cryptocurrency investments, wallets, or exchanges.
Protect yourself: Be skeptical of crypto “investment tips” from strangers—use trusted platforms and do your research.

What it is: Scammers pose as the IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement demanding payment or personal info.
Protect yourself: Government agencies won’t call and threaten arrest. Hang up and contact the agency directly.

What it is: A caller pretends to be your grandchild in trouble and asks for urgent money.
Protect yourself: Always verify the story by calling your grandchild or another family member before sending anything.

What it is: Using a phone spoofing app, criminals are calling and texting people while pretending to be from their financial institution. Once they get someone on the phone, they then play the part of an InRoads team member and falsely tell potential victims there has been suspicious activity on their card, or attempt to acquire your personal information. 
Protect yourself: InRoads will never initiate a call or text asking for your debit or credit card number, CVV or PIN number, Digital Banking login information, account number or social security number. If you receive a call or text like this, hang up and call us at 503.397.2376 to report it.  

What it is: Scams that promise high returns with little or no risk—often involving fake stocks, bonds, or business opportunities.
Protect yourself: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always research the company and consult a trusted advisor.

What it is: A scammer sends you a check for more than the agreed amount (often for goods or services), then asks you to refund the difference. The original check later bounces.
Protect yourself: Never accept overpayments or send money back. Wait for checks to fully clear—especially from unknown sources.

What it is: Fraudulent emails or texts designed to trick you into giving up passwords, account info, or clicking harmful links.
Protect yourself: Never click on links from unknown senders. Look for misspellings or urgent language—it’s a red flag. The FTC can help you learn how to recognize and report spam texts and avoid falling victim to text or phishing scams.

What it is: Scammers form fake online relationships to build trust—then ask for money.
Protect yourself: Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person, no matter how convincing their story is.

What it is: When a scammer fakes the caller ID or email address to appear as someone you know or trust.
Protect yourself: Don’t trust the display alone—verify the source before sharing personal info or clicking links.

What it is: Calls or pop-ups claiming your device is infected, then asking for remote access or payment.
Protect yourself: Legitimate companies won’t call you out of the blue. Close the window and contact your provider directly.

What it is: You’re told you’ve won a prize—but must pay fees or taxes to claim it.
Protect yourself: You don’t have to pay to win. If you didn’t enter, you didn’t win.

What it is: Scammers offer to resell your timeshare—then charge upfront fees and disappear.
Protect yourself: Avoid companies that demand payment before providing service. Verify licensing and read reviews.

What it is: Fake “special offers” or contests promoted on less-regulated stations, often involving hidden fees.
Protect yourself: Double-check the organization’s legitimacy before acting. Don’t share personal info live or on-air.