You get a letter stating that your bank has moved your home loan to another servicing company. The letter looks official and there's a number you can call for more information. You contemplate calling, but you're worried that it might be a scam. There's an easy way to find out if it actually is.
You can go to the Scam Detector site or download the free iPhone app for information about more than 550 scams worldwide. An Android version of the app will be available July 11.
Scam Detector makes it easy to search for scams by category: auto, face-to-face, Internet, telephone and travel. When you click on a category, you'll get a list of scams, with detailed information about each one and tips on how to avoid it. You also can submit a scam. And if you're a victim of a scam, you can use the app to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Scam Detector also partners with the Better Business Bureau to provide a weekly list on its site of the top ten scams. Sorin Mihailovici, founder of Scam Detector, says that he is working to implement the weekly top-ten list on the app soon.
Mihailovici created Scam Detector, which is based in Alberta, Canada, because his best friend lost $30,000 to Nigerian scammers. They offered Mihailovici's friend a chance to invest in a project, flew him to Amsterdam for a "world partners" meeting, squeezed as much money out of him as they could over an eight-month period then cut off communication with him. After the incident, Mihailovici wanted to help others avoid becoming victims. He launched the app in 2011, and it has 2 million users worldwide.
Get 100 of our top money-saving tips by downloading the new iPad app or purchasing the PDF version.
-
Social Media Scams Cost Consumers $2.7B, Study ShowsScams related to online shopping, investment schemes and romance top the FTC's social media list this year.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
Tired of Scam Text Messages? The FCC Cracks DownNew scam text message rules from the FCC require carriers to block texts from bad numbers and protect consumers.
-
Tax Scam: IRS Warns Taxpayers Against Filing False W-2 InfoScams A new tax scam on social media advises lying on your W-2 to falsely claim credits and bigger refunds.
-
Beware Fake Disney Plus Emails That Steal Your Bank InformationFake Disney Plus billing messages enable scammers to access your bank account and drain your funds.
-
Watch Out for Flood-Damaged Cars from Hurricane IanBuying & Leasing a Car In the wake of Hurricane Ian, more flood-damaged cars may hit the market. Car prices may rise further because of increased demand as well.
-
The Best Way to Protect a Parent from ScammersScams Adult children worried about their parents’ ability to spot and avoid fraud have several options to help protect them, including a durable power of attorney, a guardianship and a revocable trust. Which might be best for your family?
