Impostor scams are draining billions—here’s how to spot them

Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary notes impostor scams have already defrauded Americans of about $1.8 billion this year, sharing a real-case where a church member nearly wired $48,500 to a fake IRS account. The piece then outlines red flags and practical steps to protect yourself: verify wire requests with your bank through official channels, resist urgent pressure to transfer money, and involve trusted allies (like church staff or family) to verify before acting.