Believe it or not, on a regular basis people with poor intentions would like to trick you into giving them vital information about your personal business. These people may come across like a "sheep in wolf's clothing", relaying that they are trying to help you with a problem, that you likely do not have. They will use the information you give them to access your accounts, make charges on your credit card, take out loans in your name, or invade your computer privacy. The good news is, with a little bit of caution, you can avoid their scams. Below are some helpful tips:
Legitimate callers do not ask for your social security number, your bank account number or your credit card information. If someone asks for this data, hang up or do not respond by email or text messaging. If they claim to be a company with whom you have an account, call the company directly and ask if they have reached out to you. If you are not aware of the company, consider discarding the call completely or ask someone to help you research the issue.
While it can be exciting if someone calls (text or email) and says you have won a prize... if you did not enter, you certainly did not win. No company offering a legitimate prize will ask for personal information. If you won, they should have what they need to know.
Don't push the button! If an email or text is received from an unknown source, do not push any buttons to move forward or accept an offer. Pushing the button can allow a virus to be downloaded to your computer.
Some emails may be a disguise. Scams like to use companies you are familiar with in the "From" line of the email. For example, one common strategy is to send an email that looks like it is from UPS and letting you know they cannot deliver your package as they do not have your correct address. Consider the below:
If you ordered the package to be shipped... they have your email.
Did you make a recent purchase? (Be careful as some of these scams come conveniently when you have made an online purchase.)
At the top of the email, look at the actual email address of the sender. If it is a person's name, it is not the company they are portraying. Also, if the ".com" name has more words than the company name, this is a clue.
If you have concern that you do have a package delivery issue, contact the post office or delivery service directly to inquire. You can also contact the product vendor for verifications. Do not respond to the suspicious email.
Risks for buying products online can be avoided by purchasing a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express gift card to enter online. These gift cards are limited in value, and you can discard and switch the number when you would like. They are not attached to personal data unless you register the card.
Protect your risks by considering identity theft insurance and title insurance for your home.
Partial information is still usable information. If someone asked for the last digits of your social security number, proceed with caution. Be sure you know the caller is with a company for which you have an account or that you initiated the call.
The above are just a few tips to help keep your identity, accounts, and electronic devices safe from predators. Please share below any tips you may have for others and let us know if this information is helpful.