If you’ve ever paid money to a scammer or lost a prize or merchandise, you may get calls from people who say they can help recover your money. But they want you to pay them first.
They might ask you to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer through companies like Western Union or MoneyGram. That’s a big no-no.
They claim to offer a variety of services
Getrefunds.com claims to offer a variety of services, from filing a complaint on your behalf with government agencies to sending you a reimbursement notice. The scammer will usually ask you to pay an upfront fee or provide them with your financial information, such as a bank account number, credit card number, or Social Security number. Beware of these offers, as they’re a scam that will cost you more money in the long run. Only government agencies and legitimate organizations will ask for such payments, so be sure to read the fine print before agreeing to anything. You should also be careful about any offer that tells you to buy a gift card, purchase cryptocurrency, or use wire transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram.
They claim to be a legitimate company
Scammers can pretend to be a government agency, nonprofit group, or other organization that needs your money or personal information to help you get a refund. They may tell you that they’re holding your money or merchandise on your behalf, filing complaint paperwork on your behalf, or offering to place your name at the top of a list for reimbursement. These false claims are designed to steal your money or make you give them your bank account number or other personal information. The only people who are legitimate will never ask for your financial information or pay you upfront to help you get a refund.
So, if you’re looking for a legitimate company to help you with your tax refund, don’t waste time on getrefunds.com.
They claim to pay you in cash
You might be lucky enough to get a refund on a purchase from a legitimate retailer. This can happen if you’ve purchased something that was defective or simply doesn’t fit. Some stores even offer a no-fuss refund process, where you walk away with your cash in hand. In the United States, you can also return an item via mail to get a refund. If you’re shopping abroad, the same rules apply, with the exception that you’ll likely have to shell out an extra fee. It’s a good idea to be aware of what you’re doing before you leave the country, and always carry your money in cash or a card that can be used at local retailers. This will prevent you from falling victim to scams.
They claim to be a scam
You may be getting calls, letters, or emails from someone who says they can help you recover money you lost in a scam. They promise to do so, but first they need you to pay them a fee or give them your financial information. This can include your bank account number, credit card information, or other personal details. Once they have this information, your refund will disappear.
Scammers also make up fake websites that look real, or ad them on social media. These sites often feature deals that are too good to be true or phony personalized products. If you’re not sure whether the company you are dealing with is legitimate, do some research and check out reviews on Google or Facebook.
In another type of refund scam, a con artist steals your bank account and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Then, they use that information to file a fake tax return and deposit the refund directly into your bank account. Once the fraudster has your personal data, he or she calls you and claims that there is an error with the tax return. You are then told to buy gift cards for a specific amount of your refund. Once the scammers get your money, they use it to fund other schemes.
These types of scams are called refund or recovery scams. They are the most dangerous because they target people who’ve already been cheated.
