The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) as well as the Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC) have noted they are continuing to receive suspicious messages on social media seeking Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Most recently, social media accounts are posing as private businesses claiming to establish a Guam Driver’s License for consumers in exchange for large fees.

However, not all calls or messages from unusual senders should be labeled as suspects.

GHS/OCB would like to remind our island community to remain cautious and to follow these tips from the Federal Trade Commission to identify and avoid scams:

  • Do not give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. 
      • Honest organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers. It’s best to contact them using a trustworthy website, email, or cell phone number.
  • Spot Imposters
      • Scammers may pose as government officials, family members, charity organizations, or companies you do business with. Do not send money or personal information in response to unexpected requests. 
  • Local numbers may be spoofed
      • Scammers often use fake caller ID’s to confuse end users. Questions about money or personal information should not be entertained. 
  • Do online searches
      • Search a company or product name with words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” You can also search a phrase describing your situation, such as, “Social Security telephone call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
  • Do not pay upfront for a promise
      • Scammers may ask individuals to pay in advance for items like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or even a job. Promises such as prizes may be offered with required taxes or fees. 
  • Consider how you pay
      • Credit cards offer a significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods do not. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it is nearly impossible to get your money back. Government agencies and honest companies do not require you to use these payment methods.
  • Talk to someone
    • Before providing money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Scam artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, conduct an online search, consult an expert – or contact the Mariana Regional Fusion Center to ask if there are other reports of similar calls which may be fraudulent in nature.

The community is advised to report any suspicious activity relating to the subject to the MRFC at (671) 475-0400 or via email at [email protected], following the Department of Homeland Security’s campaign, “If You See Something, Say Something.”

Information that is provided to the MRFC will be recorded and properly communicated to all pertinent authorities.