Scams and fake messages can affect anyone, even those who are tech-savvy. Scammers often use psychological tricks, like urgency, fear, or trust, to convince you to reveal personal information. If scammers gain access to your ID.me account, they can use it to sign in as you and access sensitive services like unemployment benefits or tax records. This article explains how to identify online scams so you can protect yourself online.
How to identify scams
Scammers are always changing tactics when it comes to how and why they may reach out to you. Here’s what to look out for:
| What to look out for | What to know |
|---|---|
| Messages pretending to be from ID.me | You may receive emails, text messages, or social media messages that claim to be from ID.me. For help checking if a communication is legitimate, visit Identifying communications from ID.me. |
| Password reset email that you didn’t request |
If you receive a password reset email that you didn’t request, this may be a sign of someone trying to access your account. To learn more, visit Protecting yourself after a scam. |
|
Unsolicited emails, texts, or direct messages from strangers |
Unsolicited messages from strangers are often scams, occurring through emails, texts, or social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). These platforms give scammers a large, anonymous audience. Always be careful when texting, emailing, or using social media, especially with people you don't know personally. |
| Fake messages urging you to act quickly |
If you get an unsolicited message urging you to verify your identity right away, do not respond. Scammers might claim you'll lose benefits if you don't act quickly. Be especially cautious of messages through text or social media and only respond if the message is from an official ID.me channel. |
| Requests for your ID.me account login information |
Stop communicating with anyone who asks for your ID.me login details, such as your password or multi-factor authentication code. Also, don’t work with anyone offering to set up an ID.me account for you. Remember, ID.me Support will never ask for these details or create an account for you. |
| Requests to verify without creating an ID.me account |
To verify your identity with ID.me, you need to create an account, upload documents; you may also need to take a selfie, or join a video call. Be cautious if you are only asked to take a selfie or join a video call, without fully setting up your ID.me account. Scammers might try to create an ID.me account in your name and use these methods to falsely verify your identity. |
The psychology of scams
Scammers increasingly use human psychology, rather than technical methods (like deep fakes or fake documents), to gain access to an account. They often exploit trust, fear, or a sense of urgency to manipulate their victims into taking actions that benefit the scammer.
Here are examples of scams to look out for:
Fake jobs
“Please reply to verify your job employment verification. All you need to do is click on the link and take a selfie to complete the verification process. We can also set up an interview on Facebook Messenger.”
Tip: When in doubt, contact the company who listed the job. Be on the lookout for people who invite you to a job interview on Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp. Learn more about job scams.
Financial promises
“I’m donating to 200 random individuals. If you get this message then your number was selected to win 10,000 USD. ”
Tip: Ignore anyone who promises you extraordinary deals, benefits, or financial gain. One rule to keep in mind is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Learn more about income scams.
Romance scams
“You’re the only one I can help like this because you’re the love of my life. Send me your information and I can send you money.”
Tip: Romance scams can be hard to spot, especially if you've been in touch with the person for a while. A red flag is if they avoid meeting in person. Never send money or verify your identity for someone you've only met online or over the phone. Learn more about romance scams.
Extortion and intimidation
“Click the link within 24 hours. Otherwise, I may reveal information about you that I have.”
Tip: Don’t be pressured by threats. Do not continue to send text messages or emails to someone who is threatening you. Learn more about threats and extortion scams.
Unusual payment requests
“Do you think you can help me out? I’ll send you money via CashApp, if you can convert it to Bitcoin for me.“
Tip: Ignore unsolicited messages that ask you to make payments through unconventional methods, like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Learn more about payment app scams.
By recognizing the warning signs of these scams and maintaining a healthy skepticism, you can protect yourself from fraudulent activities.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
If you believe you are a victim of an online scam, take immediate steps to minimize any damage and to protect yourself. To learn what next steps to take, visit Protecting yourself after a scam.
If you suspect someone tried to create an ID.me account or verify using your information, immediately contact ID.me Support to report suspected fraud.