Fraud at the Front Door
Scammers are appearing at victims' physical addresses—tips to help protect yourself.
The FTC recently highlighted a new and disturbing trend that's emerging in the ever-evolving fraud landscape: fraudsters are showing up at victims' homes or arranging in-person meetings with the aim of collecting physical cash, gold bars, or other valuables. This is a significant shift from digital scams—where the victim's financial and other assets and data are at risk—to a scenario in which the victims could end up in imminent danger of physical harm.
Even if scammers don't directly threaten victims in these in-person scenarios, they enable the criminals to use high-pressure tactics and intimidation to get what they want, especially because they're often posing as representatives of the government, banks, or other trusted institutions.
How they work, and who they're targeting:
Like digital scams, these often start with phone calls, emails, or social media messages designed to convince the victim that the scammer is contacting them about a legitimate governmental or business concern. Once their false identity is established, the scam proceeds—maybe with an urgent request for money, an unauthorized transaction in the client's bank account, a call to transfer money from a compromised account to a safe one, or even a fraudulent investment opportunity—whatever it is, it's nearly guaranteed that the scammer will pressure the victim to act quickly.
Anyone might be a target, but often these criminals focus on older adults or those who may have trouble recognizing scam tactics—often those with diminished capacity. Of course, many of these victims will be particularly vulnerable to intimidation or threats from a person who's standing in front of them. So encourage loved ones to be suspicious of any unsolicited communications, especially those requesting personal information or insisting they must act quickly.
Educate yourself about these scams:
Use the following tips to help you and your loved ones avoid or deal with these scams.
If a scammer uses an electronic channel:
Pause and do not respond immediately: Never feel pressured to act on the spot, even if the message or call seems urgent.
Verify the contact's identity: Use official channels to reach out to the organization or person, such as a phone number that you independently looked up or the official website's address, which you typed directly into your browser's address bar. Avoid clicking "sponsored" links, as these can often lead to malicious websites or scams.
Do not share information: Legitimate organizations will not request confidential details, such as account numbers, passwords, or payment in the form of gift cards or wire transfers, over unsecured electronic channels like email, text, or social media.
Consult trusted individuals: If unsure, discuss the message with your bank, financial advisor, or a family member before taking any action.
Report suspicious activity: Flag or report suspicious emails or texts as fraud. If you have provided your home address to the scammers, report it to local authorities immediately.
Preserve evidence: Take screenshots, save emails or texts, and keep records so you can provide them to authorities if needed.
If someone physically visits your home:
Never let anyone you don't know come inside: Genuine government, financial, utility, or other representatives rarely visit you at home without prior notice. When in doubt, keep your door locked and communicate via window or intercom.
Insist on valid identification: Ask for official ID and do not hesitate to call the organization using its official contact number to verify the visitor's identity. Genuine officials will not object to verification.
Refuse immediate transactions: Never hand over cash, valuables, or personal information to someone who's at your door demanding payment.
Call for Help: If you feel threatened or if valuables have already been taken, call local law enforcement immediately (911).
Preserve Evidence: Try to remember identifying details—the person's appearance, their vehicle's make, model, and license plate number, the type of documents they presented—and if possible don't touch anything the scammer has touched. This makes it easier for police to conduct future investigations.
Report the Incident: Once the scammer is gone, immediately contact your financial institution, local police, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Alert Neighbors: Inform neighbors and local community groups if an impersonator has targeted your area to help prevent further incidents.
Remember that legitimate government, financial, or other institutions will never:
Demand money or threaten you with arrest.
Promise you prizes out of the blue (even if you didn't enter a contest or sweepstakes).
Make unsolicited phone calls.
Abruptly request access to your devices or asking you to install software that enables this access.
Remember: It's better to be safe than sorry. If something feels off, trust your instincts and always take the time to verify before you act.