Phishing
Phishing is a type of online fraud that occurs when cyber criminals send email messages or create websites that mimic legitimate businesses to trick people into disclosing personal information, such as credit card numbers or login credentials. Although phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, there are several things you can do to protect yourself.
First, look for red flags indicating a phishing email, such as poor grammar, misspellings, and generic greetings. Second, never click on links in emails or text messages unless you are confident they are legitimate. And finally, if you receive an email or text message that appears to be from a business you know, contact the company directly to verify the message before taking any action. Following these simple tips can help protect yourself from falling victim to a phishing scam.
Debt Collection Scams
Debt collection scams are becoming increasingly common as scammers try to take advantage of people struggling to pay their bills. The scammer will contact the person by phone or email, claiming to be a debt collector. They will often threaten legal action if the debt is not paid and may even claim to have already filed a lawsuit.
They will then demand that the person pays the debt immediately, often asking for payment by wire transfer or prepaid debit card. If the victim refuses to pay, the scammer may threaten to arrest them or garnish their wages. In some cases, the scammer may even spoof the caller ID of a legitimate debt collection agency in an attempt to appear more credible. There are a few things you can do to avoid these scams.
First, never give out personal information like your Social Security number or bank account number to someone you don’t know. Second, be suspicious of anyone who contacts you out of the blue and demands immediate payment for a debt. If you’re unsure whether a call is legitimate, call the company directly to confirm. Finally, always insist on being contacted in writing before you make any payments. This way, you’ll have a record of the communication and can confirm that the debt is legitimate before you pay anything.