Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Scammers becoming more "creative"

Does it seem to you that scammers are becoming more aggressive and more creative?

A friend recently received a phone call that purportedly was from McAfee. The caller wanted remote access to her computer so that she could "refund" $300.00 from McAfee. The person who received the call was smart enough to hang up, but seconds later another caller followed up with the same scam. Quite likely her phone number will be passed around now as a "good" phone number; i.e., one that is answered.

Now I know that you are smart enough to avoid becoming their next sucker, but what about someone you know? Perhaps someone who is not quite so computer savvy as you?

It's a fact of life now (not an "alternative fact") that scammers are getting more aggressive and more creative in their attempts by email and telephone to get your money out of your pocket and into theirs.

Carefully guard ALL confidential and privacy information. Do not give out any personal information to anyone who calls you. Even if you know who they are, call them back at a known and proven customer service number (not the number they give you). Get that number off the back of your credit card or bank statement.

Caveat emptor. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

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