With the wonders of the internet these days, there is also a plethora of Scams out there and running rampant. We'll hit a few points here on how to spot some of those, and possibly save you some money!
1. Phone scams, These have to be the most, there are tons of them out there. Most of these will look legit because the scammer Hijacks a local number of a reputable business which is what you see on your call display. The people behind these calls are usually well-trained in impersonating who they are supposed to be. Be it a Tax collector, IT help, Utility person, and so on, they all know what to say, and their job is to convince you to give them money and/or information. That is the first clue if you receive a call from somewhere that you know does not call people, hang up, and call the company back asap. The second clue, is they ask for money within the first couple of sentences, or better yet gift cards. This should set off alarm bells. NO company out there will ask for payment in form of a gift card! Hang up! If they persist, call your local police and provide them with the number if you have it. The third clue is the person on the other end begins getting agitated in their ways to convince you to purchase gift cards or send them money or even Bitcoin. Again alarm bells. Your local utilities do NOT take bitcoin for payments of services. The fourth clue is persistence, they keep calling back, and heaven forbid if you gave them money the first time and they are asking for more DO NOT send more, call your local police immediately.
Another financial trick scammers use a lot these days are, they may ask you or mention to you a "refund" you are getting. Here is where they will gather your banking information from you, as a lot of people hear the word 'refund' and will gladly start giving out their information. From there, the scammer will then deposit a large sum of money (this can come in mail form as well as a cheque), then call you and say that they made a mistake and sent too much. Asking you to please return the overage amount, usually by e-transfer or those types of means that are instant send. Now a few days later is where you find out from your bank, that the deposit didn't go in, or was fraudulent. Now you're on the hook for hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars. They use this method quite often, as nowadays the majority of people's bank accounts have a deposit and release amount set. Meaning you can deposit a cheque and take out the cash immediately. This one is a favorite of scammers. NEVER give out banking information to anyone on the phone or anyone you do not recognize. Again, call your local police and provide them with the details the person was trying to get you to do.
2. Mail and E-mail scams. I'm including mail with email in this one, as they are pretty much both the same concept, only one is in digital form. I'm sure all of us have received at one time or another, fake emails. If you haven't, make sure you're on the right internet. Now this one can be really convincing, as scammers and just about anyone can get ahold of or even make a company letterhead, add links, etc to make the email look very legit. First the email, these will look very legit and will sound legit. But they are all asking the same thing, send us money or info. Emails will usually contain a link or the like for you to "click here" and empty your bank account. Now I'm sure everyone has heard about phishing and spear-phishing. These are emails that are pin-pointed at you and a certain thing. If there is a phone number for you to call in the email - Please read above. If there is a link or logo to "click here" DO NOT click the link! If you do, you are usually directed to a website of sorts, that will either download and install spyware, malware, or other software that will allow the attacker to gain access to your computer and all files on it, including banking information.
3. I'm calling this one number 3, just because it needs to be brought up. Although it does fit into both the above categories, I feel it requires it's own paragraph.
Ransomware. is a type of malware from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the victim's personal data or permanently block access to it unless a ransom is paid. You can get hit by ransomware many different ways. Phishing emails and spear-phishing attempts are the major carrier of these. Clicking the link in those emails, usually results in taking you to a site where ransomware is installed in the background on your system. Another way is if someone has access to your network or computer. They usually get in via phishing links, install ransomware and wait for the opportune time to launch it, then request money. Remember these emails can look very convincing, as does the links, but they can be very dangerous. If your IT department hasn't sent it to you, or you don't know where it came from, DO NOT open it! Simply delete it.
Emails are a main form of communication nowadays, hence an excellent form of attacks. Be it, lost or forgotten password resets, confirming details, or other forms of information mining. Be AWARE of who you are giving that info too!
If you believe you are a victim of a scam or ransomware, contact your local police, DO NOT send money to anyone!!
Keep your anti-virus up to date, and any other malware programs you may have. There are new threats daily, so always stay up to date!
If you require IT help on your business or home computer regarding any of these topics, feel free to contact me via email, and I will gladly do what I can to help.
I am a certified IT professional who specializes in home and small business networks and security.
Stay safe!
