SMISHING & OTHER SCAMS

Scam Squad Special Guest--Dr Judy Christman Yates, (Criminologist and Financial Exploitation Specialist) SMISHING 1:15 Dr. Judy Christman Yates explains Smishing & Gives Tips to Avoid it. Here’s an example of smishing. You receive a text message. It may claim to be from a company, such as Amazon, saying that there’s a problem with your account. However, when you open the text and click on the link, a virus or malware is installed on your device. Or the text instructs you to call them (for some made-up reason) and when you do, the scammer tricks you into giving them enough personal information to steal your identity or hack into your accounts. Tips to Avoid Being Smished: - Don’t click on links! - Don’t call the phone number from texts you receive. (Even if you call and hang up before speaking, you’ll be added to an active ‘suckers’ list.) Instead, look up the businesses’ phone number from your own account statement. - Be careful when you click a link that takes you to a business or if you google a business online. Instead of being taken to the legitimate businesses site, you may be on a look-alike site, set up by the scammer. - To report scams, dial 7726 or go to reportfraud.ftc.gov 9:22 TIPS TO AVOID SCAMS WHEN SELLING ONLINE There are Four Main Scams: 1. Fake payments: Just as it sounds, a seller may try to pass off a phony cashier’s check. 2. Bogus Refund Request: The buyer overpays you for an item and then asks for a check or cash to make-up for the overpayment. Unfortunately, the check that the buyer paid with is not good and adding insult to injury, the seller also gives the buyer a refund for their so-called overpayment. 4. Fake Verification Codes. Scammers work in pairs to intercept legitimate verification codes. Here’s a previous episode describing this scam. https://youtu.be/zqHi_e6n-tY 12:55 THE FCC IS FINALY CRACKING DOWN ON AUTO WARRANTY ROBO CALLS. SIMPLE T.I.P. TO DETERMINE IF YOU’RE BEING SCAMMED. T is for Threat (Many scams involve a threat which the scammer says he’ll help you solve.) I is for Immediacy; the scammer will also make it sound urgent and that you have to do something quickly. P for Payment: Someway, somehow, the scammer will try to get you to pay them.