“You’re owed money from a class action settlement.” “A product you bought has been recalled.” Some are real. The fake ones all share one giveaway: they want something from you first.
A text or email arrives: you’re part of a class action settlement and you’re owed money. Or a product you bought has been recalled, and you need to click here for your refund.
Here’s what makes this tricky: real settlements and real recalls happen all the time. Scammers piggyback on real headlines to make their fakes believable.
Real settlements never charge you to receive money. The fee, or the request for your bank login, is the scam.
This is another version of those unsolicited text messages. Most include a link to an official-looking site with a logo, a claim form, and a countdown. Then the ask: a “processing fee,” a “tax,” or your online banking username and password so they can “deposit” your payment.
Legitimate settlement administrators don’t reach out like this, and they absolutely never charge you money to get your share.
To send you money, a payment service only needs a way to reach you. A Zelle or Venmo handle can only receive money, so sharing it with a verified administrator is low risk. Your bank’s account and routing numbers are also how direct deposits reach you, but they can be misused, so only give them to an administrator you found and verified yourself.
What you never share: your online banking login, your password, or a code texted to your phone. No legitimate payout needs those.
A real settlement notice usually comes with a claim number and tells you to visit a website you can look up independently. A fake one wants you to click right now, before the “deadline.” Urgency is the tell.
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