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Fraud & Scam Resources

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Fraud Protection

Click this graphic to view the NPD Fraud Safety Presentation

Every year millions of people fall victim to some type of financial fraud or scam. Protect yourself by recognizing common signs of a scam. Four signs its a scam...remember the words pretend, problem, pressure, & pay.

4 Signs It's A SCAM! Scammers will: 

  1. Pretend to be from an organization you know.
  2. Say there's a problem or a prize.  
  3. Pressure you to act immediately. 
  4. Tell you to pay in a specific way. 

For more information, click the video image on the right to view a presentation about Fraud Protection. 

Holiday Scams

When shopping online during the holiday season, or any time of year, always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Don't become a scammer’s next victim.

Every year, thousands of people become victims of holiday scams. Scammers can rob you of hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, a festive mood.

Scams include:

  • Non-delivery scams, where you pay for goods or services you find online, but you never receive your items
  • Non-payment scams, where you ship purchased goods or services, but you never receive payment for them
  • Auction fraud, where a product you purchase was misrepresented on an auction site
  • Gift card fraud, where a seller asks you to pay with a pre-paid card

According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) 2023 report, non-payment and non-delivery scams cost people more than $281 million that year. Credit card fraud accounted for another $264 million in losses.

Practice good cybersecurity hygiene. 

  • Don’t click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites, or on social media. Phishing scams and similar crimes get you to click on links and give up personal information like your name, password, and bank account number. In some cases, you may unknowingly download malware to your device.
  • Be especially wary if a company asks you to update your password or account information. Look up the company’s phone number on your own and call the company.

If You Become A Victim

  • Notify all banks and financial institutions in writing and by phone.
  • File a report online with the Novato Police Department and obtain a report.
  • Report the crime to the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Contact the fraud units of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.
  • Advise your local utility companies to watch out for anyone using your name.

Other Resources

For further assistance and advice you can contact the Novato Police Department at 897-4361.