Course Catalog / BMU 050 / Lesson 5 of 5

BMU 050

Quick review

1. What is the safe move for a family emergency call?

See the answer

Hang up and call the person at a number saved in your phone.

2. Does an honest employer charge you to get a job?

See the answer

No. If you must pay to get a job, it is a scam.

Why this matters

Even careful people get fooled. If it happens, speed matters. The FTC says to contact the company you paid right away. Write your plan now, while you are calm.

Start with what you already do

You already plan for emergencies, like keeping a first aid kit.

Common belief: If I got scammed, I should hide it because I feel ashamed.

What is actually true: Scammers count on shame. Telling your bank and reporting fast can stop a payment. Your report also helps the FTC and over 2,000 law enforcers find scammers. You can report even if you lost no money.

Key words

report

Telling an official group what happened.

dispute

Asking your bank or card company to reverse a charge.

identity theft

When someone uses your name or numbers to open accounts or get money.

proof

Screenshots, receipts, and notes about what happened.

Short explanation

Stop contact. Call the company you paid. Lock your accounts. Save proof. Report it. Tell someone. This order is a course plan built from FTC advice.

The six steps

1. Stop. Hang up or stop replying. Do not send more money.
2. Call who you paid. Use the number on your card or the company's real site. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment.
3. Lock up. If you shared a password or code, change it and turn on two step login.
4. Save proof. Take screenshots. Keep receipts and the gift card itself.
5. Report. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 877 382 4357. If someone used your information, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
6. Tell someone you trust. You do not have to do this alone.

Text version of this figure

• 1. Stop: Hang up. Send no more money.
• 2. Call who you paid: Number on your card or the real site.
• 3. Lock up: New passwords. Two step login.
• 4. Save proof: Screenshots, receipts, the gift card.
• 5. Report: ReportFraud.ftc.gov or 877 382 4357. IdentityTheft.gov if your info was used.
• 6. Tell someone: You do not have to do this alone.

Who to call depends on how you paid

• Credit or debit card: call the number on the back of the card and ask to dispute the charge.
• Bank transfer or Zelle: call your bank now and ask them to reverse it.
• Gift card: call the gift card company at the number on the back. Keep the card and receipt.
• Wire transfer company: call it now. Tell them it was a scam and ask for a refund.
• Payment app: report it in the app. If a card is linked, call the card company too.

If your bank will not help, you can send a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). To find the right place for other scams, USA.gov has a list.

Your capstone

Do three things. Sort the 10 practice messages on the Course project page. Write your first hour plan with the report links. Share it with a family member. Use no real account numbers in your plan.

Worked example: A made up first hour plan

Dee is made up. She bought a $300 gift card for a fake "IRS agent" at 3 PM.

Part	Model	Why it works
3:00 Stop	Dee hangs up and blocks the number	No more money goes out.
3:05 Call who you paid	She calls the number on the back of the gift card	The card company may freeze the money if she is fast.
3:10 Lock up	Skipped, and she writes why: she gave no password or code	If she had shared one, she would change it now and turn on two step login.
3:20 Save proof	Photos of the card, receipt, and call log	Proof helps with her claim.
3:30 Report	ReportFraud.ftc.gov	Her report goes to law enforcers.
3:45 Tell someone	She calls her sister	Talking helps her stay calm and spot the next try.

Practice: Pick who to call

A made up man named Paul paid a fake online seller $150 with his debit card. Who should he call first?

Check your practice: feedback

His bank, at the number on the back of his debit card. He asks to dispute the charge. Then he saves proof and reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Common mistakes

• Waiting a few days to see what happens. Call right away. Speed helps.
• Paying someone who says they can get your money back. That is a second scam. Real refunds from the government do not cost money.
• Throwing away the gift card. Keep it and the receipt for your claim.

Check your understanding

Take it as many times as you like. Pick an answer, then open the feedback.

1. You just paid a scammer with a gift card. What is the first call to make?

1. The gift card company, at the number on the card.
2. The scammer, to ask for it back.
3. A company online that promises to recover money.

See the answer and feedback

A is correct. Right. Fast calls give the best chance to freeze the money.

B: The scammer will not give it back. Review Who to call depends on how you paid.

C: Recovery offers are often a second scam. Review Common mistakes.

2. Someone opened a credit card in your name. Where do you get a recovery plan?

1. A social media group.
2. The store where you shop most.
3. IdentityTheft.gov

See the answer and feedback

C is correct. Right. IdentityTheft.gov is the FTC's free site for this.

A: Use the official site. Review The six steps.

B: Use the official site. Review The six steps.

3. You spotted a scam but did not lose money. Should you report it?

1. No, reports are only for losses.
2. Yes, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
3. Only if you know the scammer's name.

See the answer and feedback

B is correct. Right. The FTC wants reports even with no loss.

A: You can report even if you lost nothing. Review Start with what you already do.

C: Share what you know. A name is not needed. Review The six steps.

Capstone rubric

This is your course project. It is checked on 5 rows: Sort the 10 messages, Lock one account, Trusted contacts, First hour plan, Shared. See what Ready means on the Course project page.

When it is done, build it on the Course project page and press Check my project. Your certificate needs it.

Use it: 7 days and 30 days

In 7 days: lock one more account with a passphrase and two step login.

In 30 days: sort your messages from the past week, check that your family still knows the safe word, and retake the self check.