Increased tariffs on international goods may have an unexpected consequence: new fraud schemes targeting consumers. Confusion about how tariffs work and how they might increase prices can make many consumers easy fraud targets. Be wary of phone calls, emails and text messages claiming you owe tariff duties. Some requests to pay processing fees for goods you ordered from a foreign country may actually be legitimate. But real requests are accompanied by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form 7501. Unsolicited messages that are nonspecific and evasive, encourage you to dodge tariffs, or link to suspicious-looking websites are likely dangerous. Contact the Cg Team to learn more about how to protect yourself and your business. © 2025