Have you received an email from the “Financial Hardship Department” lately?
The Financial Hardship Department email is a scam with one goal – to infect your device with malware and steal your personal and financial information.
The email claims to be from a government agency or organization that offers financial assistance to those in need. The email says you have been approved for financial support and to call a phone number to finish enrolling in the program. However, it is all fake. The scammer merely wants to steal your personal and financial information.
Here is what a Financial Hardship Department scam message looks like:
Hi it’s Shela with the Financial Assistance Department. We tried reaching you at your home and did not hear back … I’m not sure if you’ve spoken to an assigned agent yet, but I do see that you’re pre-approved for our Hardship Program, so what I’m going to do is keep this in a pending status. And If you have about five minutes today give me a call so we can go over the details. My phone number is: 855-455-5177, Thank You, Shela Montalbano
Legitimate financial institutions and government agencies do not ask for personal information over the phone, through email or via text message, especially without verifying the identity of the person they are speaking with. If you receive a phone call, email, or text message like the Financial Hardship Department scam:
- Do not reply to the email or call the phone number provided in the message.
- Do not click on any links or download any attachments provided in the email. They may contain malware or viruses that can harm your device.
- Do not provide any personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account information, or credit card information.
If you have already responded to the scam email or provided personal information to the scammers, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report any suspicious activity and protect your accounts. You may also want to consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your accounts to prevent any unauthorized access. And, as always, file a complaint with the Oregon Department of Justice online at www.oregonconsumer.gov or by calling 1-877-877-9392.
FAQs
If you receive a phone call, email, or text message like the Financial Hardship Department scam: Do not reply to the email or call the phone number provided in the message. Do not click on any links or download any attachments provided in the email. They may contain malware or viruses that can harm your device.
Is the financial hardship department email legit? ›
The Financial Hardship Department scam is a phone or email scam that claims to extend financial relief to you, while disguised as a government agency or financial institution.
Is National financial Hardship loan Center real or fake? ›
Callers claiming to be from a 'financial hardship loan center' are attempting to steal victim's information or worse, digging them deeper into debt. We have collated the following transcripts from real messages left by scammers, so subscribers know what to lookout for.
How do I report spam emails to the FTC? ›
If you got a phishing email, forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org . If you got a phishing text message, forward it to SPAM (7726). Report the phishing attempt to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Will the Department of Treasury email you? ›
Likewise, e-mails or messages that seem to be from the Treasury that request information or demand a fee for a release of funds from OFAC or FinCEN holds are entirely fake.
What is the Oregon financial hardship program? ›
Oregon has cash benefit programs to help people pay for things like food, child care, clothing, rent and utilities while they work toward supporting themselves. Choose a program below to see if you qualify and how to apply.
How do I stop spam financial hardship calls? ›
The national Do Not Call list protects landline and wireless phone numbers. You can register your numbers on the national Do Not Call list at no cost by calling 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY). You must call from the phone number you wish to register.
Is there really such a thing as a hardship loan? ›
Hardship personal loans are a type of personal loan that is designed to help you overcome financial difficulties. This type of loan is generally offered by small banks and credit unions, and has lower interest rates, lower maximum loan amounts, and shorter repayment periods than standard personal loans.
How do I know if a loan email is legit? ›
How to spot a personal loan scam
- Do they ask for money upfront? You should never have to pay money before you get your loan funds. ...
- Are they using high-pressure sales tactics? ...
- Do they check your credit? ...
- Did they approach you about the loan? ...
- Do they have a physical address? ...
- Do you feel comfortable with the company?
In almost all cases, you must repay a hardship loan. In fact, some hardship loans are secured, meaning if you fail to pay them back, you risk losing your home, car, or any other asset you used as collateral.
How to safely unsubscribe from spam emails? To safely opt out of spam, use the unsubscribe link in legitimate emails, or mark them as spam in your email client if the link is absent or appears suspicious.
Why am I getting mail from the Department of Treasury? ›
If you do not pay the agency, the debt then goes to Treasury and we send you a letter about that debt. The letter tells you what agency you owe money to, how much you owe, and how you can pay.
What does a Treasury check look like in the mail? ›
All U.S. Treasury checks are printed on watermarked paper. When held up to the light, the watermark reads “U.S. Treasury” from both the front and the back. Any check should be suspected as counterfeit if the check has no watermark, or the watermark is visible without holding the check up to light.
How do I know if a debt collector email is real? ›
Whenever someone tries to collect a debt, ask for all of their company's information, including:
- The collector's full name.
- Company name.
- Company address.
- Company phone number.
- Company website address.
- Company email.
Financial hardship information is a sign next to a repayment on an individual's repayment history in their credit report to show that they have either a temporary or permanent financial hardship arrangement with a credit provider.
Have you received an email from the “Financial Hardship Department” lately?