The web is rife with scammers employing sophisticated tactics to get at your money and information. Fortunately, with protective measures, you can easily avoid unsafe websites. Here are ways to tell if a website is safe. Look for an SSL certificate. Secure websites have a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). An SSL is a digital certificate
Everyone loves the convenience of payment apps – and scammers do, too. Scammers are experts at hijacking our favorite conveniences for their schemes, and third-party app scams are no exception. Let’s look at scams that con the victim into downloading a bogus payment app and how to protect yourself. HOW THESE SCAMS PLAY OUTVictims of
Debt-collection scams exploit the feelings of helplessness and overwhelm to lure victims. Let’s look at these scams and how to avoid falling victim. HOW THE SCAMS PLAY OUT In a debt-collection scam, a scammer posing as a debt collector will call a victim to demand payment for an outstanding debt. The caller insists on a
According to the FBI, a Phantom Hacker Scam tricks people by using pop-ups, text, or email to get the person’s attention, then claims to be from a legitimate agency. They then warn the person that their financial information has been hacked. The pop-up, text, or email indicate they must talk to protect their device and
With the advent of online commerce, credit and debit card fraud has exploded. Unfortunately, credit card fraud can go unnoticed until it causes severe damage. Here, we’ve outlined what you need to know about credit and debit card fraud, how to protect yourself, and what to do when you’re targeted. What is credit card fraud?
You’ve got mail! And the good news keeps coming, because you’ve been pre-approved for a large loan—maybe even a mortgage! Yes, you! It’s a dream come true—until it turns into a living nightmare. Here’s what you need to know about preapproval scams and how to stay safe. How the scams play out In a preapproval
Digital kidnapping happens when a scammer takes control of a victim’s social media profiles and holds it for ransom. It can also involve “kidnapping” photos that are posted on social media pages. Here’s what you need to know about digital kidnapping. How the Scams Play OutIn a digital kidnapping scam, a hacker takes control
Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but scammers can turn that dream into an absolute nightmare. Here’s all you need to know about fake lottery scams. How the Scams Play Out In a fake lottery scam, a scammer reaches out to a potential target by phone, email, or social media message to inform them they’ve
Survey scams are almost as old as the internet. Spend just an hour online and there’s a good chance you’ll be running into an ad for a “super quick” survey promising big money or prizes for just a few minutes of your time. What actually happens, though, is that the scammer walks away with
It’s an amazing employment opportunity–or is it? Scammers often hijack the job market to ensnare job seekers. Here’s what to know about these scams. How the scams play out There are several variations in job scams. Here are the most common: Bogus job listing. There’s a Help Wanted ad for a dream job. The eager job-seeker
Using a compromised ATM can mean risking identity theft and/or having cash stolen. With this simple machine, all it takes is a few short minutes for a victim’s life to meet disaster. Here are tips to help you keep your ATM transactions secure. Keep your PIN private. Don’t share it with anyone and don’t write
We live in an increasingly digital world. As the number of online services has exploded, so have the tribes of fraudsters who are engaging in identity theft. Cyber thieves who access one’s personally identifiable information (PII) such as birthdate, Social Security number, home address, driver’s license number, passport number, and credit card or bank account
It’s tax time! Unfortunately, that means there are thousands of scammers looking to steal your information and your tax refund by posing as authentic tax preparers. Here’s all you need to know about these scams and how to keep safe. HOW THE SCAM PLAYS OUTIn a tax filing scam, a victim will hire an alleged
IDENTITY THEFTThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have been stealing personal information from individuals and then filing and claiming unemployment benefits in that individual’s name. Victims of these unemployment scams are often just now learning about this identity theft, as unemployment agencies are sending tax forms (1099-G) for income tax filing. If you received a 1099-G
America’s most expensive scam is on the rise. Romance scams are all over the internet and can be difficult to spot. Here’s what you need to know about these scams. HOW THE SCAM PLAYS OUT In a romance ruse, a scammer creates a bogus online profile and attempts to connect to singles on dating apps and
As vaccine distribution begins across the country, scammers will be tagging right along. Here’s what you need to know to avoid a vaccine-related scam: You cannot pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine. You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine. No one from a vaccine distribution site or
How it plays out:The “Secret Sister” gift exchange seems like a fun way to spread cheer within the social media-verse, but it’s actually an illegal pyramid scheme, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Akin to old-timey chain letters, the Secret Sister gift exchange asks participants to buy a gift of at least $10
ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT SCAMS – TEXTScammers are texting taxpayers and trying to trick them into disclosing bank account information or other personal identifying information under the guise of receiving an Economic Impact Payment. The scam text message states: “You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept
Uh oh — you’ve been hacked! Finding out someone has cracked open your accounts and helped themselves to your information can be alarming, but there are ways to mitigate the damage while jump-starting your recovery process. Here are five steps to take after being hacked: Step 1: Assess the damage First, determine the damage. Unfortunately, one
Don’t be the next victim of a debt-collection scam! Here’s all you need to know about these scams: HOW THE SCAMS PLAY OUT In a debt-collection scam, a caller claiming to represent a debt-collection agency demands immediate payment for an alleged outstanding debt. The caller insists on specific means of payment and may threaten to
