Financial Scams

Please immediately notify law enforcement. The quicker they are on a case the better the chance there is of solving it.
 

Scams Prevention Tips recommended by Carlsbad Police Department.  Click here.

Scam Alerts and tips from the Carlsbad Police Department:

August 2026 Scams Sweeping the US. Click here.
4/30/26 If you shop in public with credit or debit cards, your money and identity are at risk. Click here for more information.

4/16/26 FBI Scam Alert.  Click here for more information.

3/18/26  Computer Scams and Credit card Fraud Summary. Click here for more information.

Report all unsolicited email - including the full email headers - claiming to be from the IRS or an IRS-related function to phishing@irs.gov

To report Identity Theft click here.

For more information about tax scams and identity theft click here.
 

Red Light “WARNING” Statements

• Secret or “inside” deals

• Miracle cures

• Last chance/act now high pressure sales tactics

• Free money, guaranteed no risk, or tax-free statements

• Individuals who “find” money and take you into their confidence. This is commonly referred to as a “pigeon drop”. Simply, if it sounds too good to be true it is.

• Police or bank officials will NEVER ask you to withdraw money from your account to “catch” someone.
 

Telephone Calls or E-mails

• Be wary of unsolicited calls.  You may report IRS scams to the IRS. Click here to see how.

Be aware of unsolicited e-mails.  Forward phishing e-mails to phishing-report@us-cert.gov

• Sign up for the “Do Not Call” list through the state Attorney General’s Office. On the internet: www.donotcall.gov or by Phone: 1-888-382-1222. This will prevent many telephone solicitations. Charitable and religious organizations may still call.

• Use Caller ID to screen your calls

• Do not give out personal information

• Do not give out account information

• Report nuisance or harassing calls to police
 

Strangers/Door to Door Sales People

• Do not allow them inside your residence

• Politely point out your “No Soliciting Sign” (available at the police department)

• Call police if you are contacted by any persons offering to re-asphalt a driveway or provided improvements. These are common scams.

• Do not pay any money up front for a job you have solicited. Remember to check their references and the Better Business Bureau for verification.

A REMINDER FROM THE CARLSBAD POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT SCAMS JANUARY 2026
AARP Bulletin on Class Action Lawsuit scams: Fake Notice Red Flags
Requests for Social Security numbers, bank routing or account numbers: Real notices shouldn’t ask for this information for you to receive your payment.
Demands for fees to be paid by crypto-currency or gift cards.
Urgent deadlines (“24 hours”): Legitimate settlements usually allow you weeks or months to respond.
Nonstandard authority names (‘United States International Tribunal”), common in scams.
Unprofessional email addresses or domain names (payments@megacorpx-support.com): These are most likely not the defendant’s real address or a court or administrator’s actual website.
If still unsure, contact the law firm or lawsuit's claims adminstrator, both of which should be listed on the settlement website.

Tips:
• Report lost or missing mail to the Postal Inspectors (913-266-2400)
• Report lost or missing mail order packages to the shipping company; UPS, FedEx, etc
• Check credit card/bank statements regularly and immediately report any problems
• Request a credit history at least twice per year
• Shred any paperwork you are throwing out.