Most of us have experience with scam phone calls or e-mails designed to trick us and take our money. Calls from people who are trying to access personal data or financial information are common. It’s not always easy to detect a fraudulent call as scammers are getting more and more sophisticated, they are very good at what they do. These calls can have disastrous effects on the unsuspecting recipient.
Frequently calls are to tell us our credit card has been compromised. It begins with “this is your credit card security alert calling to tell you about large, unexpected purchases on your card.” They then quote dollar amounts designed to scare you into action. There are clues this is a scam: They do not mention your name. How do they know who answered the phone? Anyone in your home could have answered. Your five-year-old son or your budgie or cat would receive the same message.
Neither did they mention WHICH credit card, you may have more than one. Next They might say “If this was not your purchase press number 1. DO NOT. Instead HANG UP. If you press the number 1 charges will begin for the cost of the phone call and end up on your bill.
They may ask you to confirm your credit card number so they can sort it out or ask for a bank account number. If, as they say you have fake charges on your card, they must already know the number, ask them to give it to you. They will not sort anything out! Instead, you are the one who will need sorting out if you comply.
Another scam call is a threat from the court. You are told “Within 24 hours you will be summoned to court convicted of fraud, you owe money on taxes.” Regrettably there are numerous such calls. Some of us do owe money so again we react. You will never get such a call. If you are concerned hang up and check the account in question by calling them directly.
A more recent one is to say “we are calling from the customs at Border services, we have a parcel with your name on it that contains hazardous goods.” Note they do not say the name or whether the parcel is coming or going!
So, learn what to watch for and how to best deal with them. If there is a silent gap between you answering and their first response, that gap allows them time to set up their recorded message. The intent of calls is to glean as much information about you as they can. Never give personal details or bank account numbers no matter what the threat. We are told to report the call but now scammers are sophisticated enough to constantly change numbers from which they call this does not help much.
One scam call I get regularly is someone posing as a Microsoft technician telling me my Computer has been hacked, to turn it on immediately and he will sort it all out. A likely story. I have two answers for this:
- Aren’t I lucky then that my computer technician is here right now, he’ll sort it out. Thank you for calling, then hang up. Or
- Computer, what do you mean? I don’t have a computer! They sound a bit incredulous, but they usually hang up fast.
- Another one is for duct cleaning: “we are in your area and can send someone this week.”
Answer, “Why if I am living in a new home do my ducts need cleaning already?
The caller often begins “Good evening how are you? “ Have some fun, “thank you for asking, my gout is terrible, I also have tooth ache, do you think I should go to the doctor or dentist first? Just keep on talking about imaginary ailments, they will hang up. Of course, if you don’t wish to have fun it’s easier just to hang up immediately.
Never identify yourself, if they tell you, you have to, No you don’t. That person called you, with specific information so they should know who you are. If they tell you to provide personal data so the conversation can continue – especially your name, Social Security number, address, and account numbers – you’re on the line with someone hoping to bilk you.
If you’re concerned about the account that person mentioned, hang up and call the company to find out if there’s a problem – and to report the scam.
Calls from people who are trying to steal your money, personal data or financial information are all too common. It’s not always so easy to detect scammers. Scammers also typically play the numbers game – they ring hundreds or thousands of people a day until they eventually land on the right person.
Perhaps you do have something in collections, or really have avoided paying a large tax bill or entered a sweepstakes for a three-day Caribbean cruise and are expecting a call. In that case, you just might give them what they’re after. Beware of all calls from unknown or unexpected sources.
Spam emails to can be another problem. They rely on threatening you with something that invokes fear. If any time you are away from home and you access a public wi- fi which is unsecured your e-mail is easily hacked. A few weeks later you may get a series of scam e- mails.
There are numerous ways to hack Facebook accounts and emails. A common one is the copying of a heartfelt message about disability or cancer or something that makes you feel guilty if you ignore it. If anything tells you to paste and copy rather than share, it is suspicious.
As are the numerous loving hearts and flowers messages on face book messenger requesting you send it to ten friends. Another ruse is the face book questionnaires asking us to respond with our favourite flavour of ice- cream, or name of a pet. As a face book junkie, I have sometimes mistakenly answered these. Think of all the data they could collect about you if they put your answers together, now despite the temptation I am smart enough to refrain.
Just be prudent, most of us get fooled at some point and correcting the situation can be time- consuming and maybe expensive. Keep your guard, watch out for scammers. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you are not named as they accuse you of something that too is probably a scammer. Better be safe than sorry. Protect your identity.
