How to Avoid the Hardship Relief Program Email in 2024

Many Americans find it harder to manage their money than before the pandemic. This worry over money has unfortunately made it easy for scammers to target people desperate for a way to manage their debts better. These fraudsters offer false help, like special breaks on payments or lower interest rates, just to get your details. 

In our guide, we’re going to show you how to spot the Financial Hardship Department Email Scam, recognize warning signs, what steps to take if you get one of these scam emails, what to do if you’ve been tricked by one, and tips on avoiding these scams in the future.

Is there any real Hardship Relief Program by the Government?

It’s important to clarify that the Federal Government does not provide hardship grants by directly contacting the individuals. There are some specific individual programs as well but an individual has to apply for all these hardship financial assistance, Govt. never selects of contacts anyone offering help.

The primary purpose of these grants is to support programs that are designed to benefit specific groups or communities as a whole. Individuals seeking assistance won’t find a government program labeled as a “hardship grant.” If someone offers you such relief programs through email or call, it is most likely a scam.

However, there are numerous other forms of government assistance available. These are aimed at helping with essential needs such as food, housing, and healthcare. It’s crucial for individuals in need to explore these options for support.

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What is the Financial Hardship Department email?

As there is no such program, Financial Hardship Department email is likely a scam and you need to stay away from it. This scam works as its name implies. People who are having a hard time with their debts get contacted by tricksters pretending to be from a government office called the Financial Hardship Department. 

They target individuals who are facing money problems. The scam email pretends to come from a government group that helps people financially. It says you’ve been picked to get up to $37,000 to help with your finances and tells you to call a number (833-674-2425) to sign up for the aid.

The real goal of these fraudsters is to get your private information, like your driver’s license or Social Security Number, to steal your identity. They say they need to “check who you are” and ask for your info to “update their records.”

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How does the Financial Hardship Department scam work?

When people call the number given by the scammers in the email, the scam can happen in a few different ways. The scammers might ask more questions to get important information from you, like details about your credit card and your bank information. 

They might also want to know your name, phone number, and information about your family. The tricksters can use the information they get from you however they want. For example, they could use your social security number to do illegal things or commit fraud with your personal information. 

Similarly, they could take money from your bank or use your credit card without permission. The fraudsters might also ask you to pay a fee to process your application. Asking for a processing fee is a common way these tricksters try to take money from people.

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Red flags in Hardship Relief Program email

The fake Financial Hardship Department email has several warning signs that show it’s a scam:

• The email has many spelling and grammar mistakes, often seen in scams.
• It comes from an odd or possibly fake email address, another red flag.
• The email tries to rush you by saying you’ve been chosen for financial help and must act fast to get it.
• It’s an offer you didn’t ask for, meaning the email came out of nowhere.
• The email uses unusual characters‪, known as “left-to-right embedding” characters. Scammers use these to hide text and trick spam filters that look for specific words. This trick makes the scam emails seem real.
• The email pretends to be from a government agency but looks fake and doesn’t give any real contact details or a website for the agency.

Real banks and government offices won’t ask for your personal details over the phone or email, especially without checking who you are first. If you get an email or call like the Financial Hardship Department scam, it’s best to ignore it or tell the authorities.

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What should you do if you have received this scam email?

If you get this scam email, here’s what you should do:

• Don’t reply to it or give any personal details or money to the scammers. Instead, tell the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC about the email.
• Don’t open attachments or click links in the email because they might have harmful software.
• Don’t share any personal info. Scammers might ask for your address or credit card details to steal your identity.
• Check if the email and the person sending it are real.
• Mark the email as junk or spam. This helps stop others from being tricked by the same scam.
• If you’ve already opened an attachment, use anti-malware to check your device for malware.
• If you’ve given out personal information, tell your bank and credit card companies immediately, and keep an eye on your accounts for anything odd.

It’s important to be careful with emails from people or places you don’t know and take steps to keep yourself safe from scams.

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What if you’ve fallen for a Hardship Relief Program email Scam?

If you’ve already shared your personal info because of a Hardship Relief Program email scam, there are steps you can take to protect yourself:

1. Initiate a credit freeze

First, quickly contact one of the big three credit reporting agencies and request a credit freeze. This stops anyone from being able to look at your credit report, which means they can’t open new accounts in your name. 

When you do this with one agency, they’re supposed to tell the other two. You can also set up a credit alert. This means lenders must call you before opening any credit in your name. You need to set this alert separately with each credit bureau.

2. Report suspicious activity

If you get any weird emails or calls, tell the FTC at reportFraud.ftc.gov. If someone is pretending to call from another phone number (spoofing), let the Federal Communications Council (FCC) know by filling out a form or calling 1-888-225-5322. 

Your phone service might also have ways to block these scam calls. For example, T-Mobile has Scam Shield, AT&T has ActiveArmor, and Verizon has a Call Filter. If you find out scammers are pretending to be a real company, tell that company so they can warn others. They might even make a public statement about it.

3. Change your passwords

Now, change all your usernames and passwords. Start with accounts with your payment info, like online stores, budget apps, sites for sharing money, and your bank. After that, do the same for your social media. This stops the scammer from getting into your accounts and trying to scam your friends by pretending to be you.

Changing passwords can be annoying and take a while. But these days, most internet browsers can make up strong passwords for you and remember them. There are also other programs you can use if your browser doesn’t do this.

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How to avoid such scams and stay safe?

It’s crucial to stay alert and informed to keep yourself safe from scams, especially ones like the Financial Hardship Department scam. Here are some essential tips to help you identify and avoid these kinds of scams, ensuring your personal and financial information remains secure.

Be careful with unexpected emails

Be cautious if you get an email from the “Financial Hardship Department” or similar without asking for it. Emails that offer quick money or financial help out of the blue should be treated with suspicion, especially if you didn’t ask for help.

Don’t click on attachments or links

Scam emails might have attachments or links that take you to fake websites that look real. Clicking on these can let malware into your device, giving cybercriminals a way to get your personal and financial information.

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Check who sent the email

Scammers can make it look like their emails are from real, trustworthy sources. You can usually spot a fake by looking closely at the email address to see if it matches the company or person it’s supposed to come from.

Research the company

Before you reply to any email, take some time to look up the company it says it’s from, especially if it’s new to you. A quick internet search can show whether reports or reviews call the company a scam.

Avoid sharing sensitive information

Real companies won’t ask for your bank details, social security number, or credit card information over email. Never share these details online with someone you don’t trust completely.

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Final Thoughts

Staying sharp-eyed and informed is your best defense against the “Hardship relief program email” scam and others like it.

You can safeguard yourself from these scams by being cautious with unexpected emails, avoiding clicking on suspicious links or attachments, verifying the sender’s identity, researching unfamiliar companies, and never sharing sensitive personal information online. 

Legitimate organizations won’t ask for your private details via email. Armed with the right knowledge and practices, you can protect yourself from falling into the trap of scammers looking to exploit those seeking financial relief.