Scammers are getting more creative and aggressive every day. Their goal? To create panic so you act before you can think. The following guide has tips on two of the most common scams we’re seeing lately, plus some general advice for avoiding fraud altogether. Keep it handy so you know what to watch for.

 The Jury Duty Arrest Warrant Scam

This is one of the most pervasive and frightening scams these days.

The Call: Someone calls claiming to be a police officer or court official. They say you missed jury duty, and there is a warrant out for your arrest.

The "Fix": To avoid being arrested immediately, you must pay a fine over the phone using a gift card, wire transfer, or mobile payment app.

The Truth: Law enforcement and courts will NEVER call you to demand payment to avoid an arrest. They will NEVER ask you to pay a fine with a gift card. This is ALWAYS a scam!

The Bank Imposer Scam

Another popular scam involves a caller pretending to be from your bank's fraud department.

The Call: Using sophisticated scripts and even data captured from illicit sources, they'll claim your account has been compromised.

The “Fix”: They create a sense of extreme urgency, insisting that your money is at risk if you don't act immediately. To "verify" your identity, they will ask for your online banking password, PIN, or a one-time login code that has just been sent to you.

The Truth: If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and call your bank using the official number on the back of your debit card or on their website. Your bank will never call you and ask for your password, PIN, or login codes.

The AI Voice Clone Emergency Scam 

A new, sophisticated scam uses artificial intelligence to clone the voice of a loved one.

The Call: You receive a frantic call, and the voice on the other end sounds exactly like your child, spouse, or grandchild. They claim they've been in an accident or are in trouble and need money wired immediately.

The "Fix": The emotional distress of hearing a familiar voice in crisis is designed to make you act without thinking, wiring money before you can verify the story.

The Truth: Scammers can clone a voice with just a few seconds of audio from a social media post. The best defense is to hang up, no matter how real it sounds. Call your loved one back immediately on the phone number you know is theirs!

 Your Three-Step Defense Plan

1 STOP. Do not give them any personal or financial information. No matter how convincing or threatening they sound, do not react to the pressure.

2 HANG UP. Don't engage. Don't argue. Just hang up the phone.

3 VERIFY. If you are genuinely concerned you might have missed jury duty, look up the official phone number for your local clerk of courts yourself. Do NOT use any number the caller gave you. Call them directly to verify.

Remember: Legitimate organizations will never use threats to demand immediate payment over the phone, especially with gift cards or wire transfers!