Identify Scams

Scams take various forms. The most common we hear about are letters, e-mails or phone calls. Take the following, for example:

Scam example 1:  You are notified you have won a lottery or other monetary prize.

• A bogus check for a smaller amount is often included to cover “administrative costs,” taxes or fees. The check may:
  
  
  • Feature a corporate logo
    
    
  • Appear to be drawn off of State Farm Bank® or other banking institution
    
    
  • Appear to be signed by a company representative
    
    
• You may be given a claim number and asked to contact an “agent” or prize administrator to claim the rest of your “prize.”
  
  
• In the case of a letter or e-mail, scammers may use a State Farm or other well-known logo, or otherwise try to make it appear that the “contest” is sponsored by the company. They may try to make it appear as though a company executive has signed the letter or the check, even copying or forging his or her signature.

Consumer Tip:

Watch carefully for hints that documents have been doctored:

• Slight differences between the type size, color or font on different areas of a check
  
  
• Differences between the logo, company name or address on the letter or check, and an authentic one.
  
  
• Misspellings or other obvious errors.

Scam example No. 2:  You are told your insurance policy is about to lapse or be canceled due to unpaid premium.

• The scammer asks for your credit card information in order to pay the necessary amount immediately to avoid cancellation or a lapse in coverage.

Consumer Tip:

If you get a call reminding you of an overdue payment, make sure it’s your personal State Farm agent’s office calling. If you have any doubts, hang up and call your agent at a phone number you know is correct. Your State Farm agent’s first concern is that you and your personal information remain safe, so the agent’s office will be glad to receive your call.

Scam example No. 3:  You get an authentic-looking bill indicating you are in “Past Due” status; but, you don’t remember the purchase or other transaction the bill is for.

Consumer Tip:

If you don’t recognize the company name or remember buying the items on the bill, call the billing company to confirm the purchase. 

“Unclaimed property assistance” may or may not be a scam.

You may get an offer to assist with retrieving unclaimed property. This is often thought to be a scam but may be a legitimate service that assists for a nominal fee.

Consumer Tip:

To be safe, it’s wise to go to the state involved and claim your property directly. You can usually learn more about this by performing an Internet search using terms like “[your state] unclaimed property.”