A new scam is taking fraud beyond the phone or computer screen. Criminals are convincing people their money is at risk, then sending a courier directly to their home to collect cash, gold or other valuables.
These scams often begin with a phone call, text message, email or pop-up alert claiming to be from your financial institution, a government agency or a tech support company. The scammer may pressure you to withdraw money to "protect" your accounts or claim you need to pay a fee to recover funds from an investment.
No legitimate financial institution, including Solarity, will ever send someone to your home to collect cash or valuables.
Protect yourself:
- Never give cash, gold or valuables to someone who comes to your door because of a phone call, email or text.
- Be suspicious of anyone creating urgency or telling you to keep the situation secret.
- If someone claims to represent Solarity, hang up and contact us immediately
- If a courier arrives unexpectedly, do not hand anything over. Close the door and contact local law enforcement if you feel threatened.
Learn more about this scam from the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions and the FBI:
If you think you've been targeted or have already sent money, contact Solarity immediately so we can help protect your accounts and discuss next steps. Fraud should also be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Report the scam
If you believe you've been targeted, stop communicating with the scammer and contact Solarity immediately so we can help protect your accounts. Even if you didn't lose money, reporting the scam can help authorities identify patterns and prevent others from becoming victims.
You should also report the incident to:
- Your local law enforcement agency
- Washington DFI: File a complaint or call 1-877-746-4334
- FBI: www.ic3.gov — include any names, phone numbers, websites, apps, and account numbers
- Seniors aged 60 and over can also call the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)
The more information you can provide, such as phone numbers, email addresses, text messages or details about the courier, the more helpful your report will be to investigators.
Related articles
Beware of scammers asking you to move money to “protect” your account
In this type of scam, the fraudster may tell you your account is at risk and that you need to move your money to a “safe” account.
What to do if you are the victim of a scam
Falling for a scam can happen to anyone, and recovery starts here. Discover 9 clear, supportive steps from Solarity to protect your finances and your peace of mind.
Proven strategies for preventing fraud
March is fraud prevention month. At Solarity, we are always trying to help keep you (and your money) safe.
More to explore
A new scam is taking fraud beyond the phone or computer screen. Criminals are convincing people their money is at risk, then sending a courier directly to their home to collect cash, gold or other valuables.
These scams often begin with a phone call, text message, email or pop-up alert claiming to be from your financial institution, a government agency or a tech support company. The scammer may pressure you to withdraw money to "protect" your accounts or claim you need to pay a fee to recover funds from an investment.
No legitimate financial institution, including Solarity, will ever send someone to your home to collect cash or valuables.
Protect yourself:
- Never give cash, gold or valuables to someone who comes to your door because of a phone call, email or text.
- Be suspicious of anyone creating urgency or telling you to keep the situation secret.
- If someone claims to represent Solarity, hang up and contact us immediately
- If a courier arrives unexpectedly, do not hand anything over. Close the door and contact local law enforcement if you feel threatened.
Learn more about this scam from the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions and the FBI:
If you think you've been targeted or have already sent money, contact Solarity immediately so we can help protect your accounts and discuss next steps. Fraud should also be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Report the scam
If you believe you've been targeted, stop communicating with the scammer and contact Solarity immediately so we can help protect your accounts. Even if you didn't lose money, reporting the scam can help authorities identify patterns and prevent others from becoming victims.
You should also report the incident to:
- Your local law enforcement agency
- Washington DFI: File a complaint or call 1-877-746-4334
- FBI: www.ic3.gov — include any names, phone numbers, websites, apps, and account numbers
- Seniors aged 60 and over can also call the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)
The more information you can provide, such as phone numbers, email addresses, text messages or details about the courier, the more helpful your report will be to investigators.
Related articles
Beware of scammers asking you to move money to “protect” your account
In this type of scam, the fraudster may tell you your account is at risk and that you need to move your money to a “safe” account.
What to do if you are the victim of a scam
Falling for a scam can happen to anyone, and recovery starts here. Discover 9 clear, supportive steps from Solarity to protect your finances and your peace of mind.
Proven strategies for preventing fraud
March is fraud prevention month. At Solarity, we are always trying to help keep you (and your money) safe.
What's your Solarity story?
We're on a mission to tell the stories of our members and how they are living their best lives. Do you have a Solarity story to share?