Scammed on the Fourth of July? Unfortunately, it could happen, if you let your guard down.

Karen Stiles of the TODAY’S TMJ4 Call 4 Action Office has some important information about some of the latest scams and why consumer groups think you could be at risk this Fourth of July.
Although any of us can be scammed at any time, we really need to be on the lookout this weekend for scams that involve our bank or a government agency. Scam artists love to use holiday weekends to scare people about a problem with their bank, IRS, the FBI or jury duty, because they know banks and government offices are closed on the Fourth of July and that people will have a harder time checking things out.

How do you know if you’re being scammed? If the scammer tries to scare you into providing person information immediately, think twice. Some of their tactics include telling you that there has been a security breach or that you are going to be penalized for not cooperating with a government agency. However, keep in mind, banks and government agencies typically contact you by mail if there is a problem. Watch out for emails that contain spelling or grammatical errors, or links embedded in the message. Do not click on the link. Go to Web sites that you know to be legitimate.

If you are not sure if you are being scammed, check things out, even if it means having to wait until Monday. If you have caller ID, google the phone number to see if you can get more information about who was calling. If an email or phone call seems suspicious, contact police or consumer agencies. They might be able to offer more information or take action to stop the scammer from harming others.