If it’s not the hackers you need to watch out for, it’s the scammers. A friend of one of our employees sent us a screenshot of the latest scam he received.
Text Scams
Text scams like these, are becoming more frequent. Scammers are using current events, like COVID-19, to make their scam attempts more relevant. A quick shift from the “your car warranty has expired…” approach. (Although those are still prevalent.) To tell this is fake, check out the “From” information. There is a bizarre link after the phone number. That is your first red flag. This is also claiming it is from the federal government, yet none of the links end in .gov. That is your second red flag. Your next red flag is, it is asking you to submit your details, and THEN the employment department will contact you with the details pertaining this “money.” Scammers will ALWAYS ask for your information first before they provide you with any “benefits” they claim they have for you.
Phone & Online Scams
Other recent scams include, calling mobile phones claiming large charges have been applied to your credit cards and you need to verify the purchase. I get those quite often. They often claim it is an Amazon purchase for over a thousand dollars, or a new iPhone purchase. Again, these are scams. If you ever wonder if these are legitimate, look at your bank accounts. Do not stay on the phone with them, and more importantly, NEVER give them your personally identifiable information.
Beyond phone call and text scams are the fake virus scams. These are the scams that show up on your computer screens that claim you need to contact technical support to resolve an issue. These too, are fake. To resolve these, you will want to close the web browser that they are showing up on. There is nothing wrong with the computer, and if you call them they will not only encourage you to allow them access for remote entry, but they will charge you hundreds of dollars to fix a nonexistent issue.
Like hackers, scammers are advancing their methods to stay relevant in this ever changing digital landscape. Stay vigilant, and always think twice before clicking, calling, or giving out any of your information.
