Tips for Staying Safe From Phishing Scams

• Be suspicious of emails that ask for personal information. Legitimate companies will never ask for your personal information in an email. If you receive an email that asks for your password, credit card number, or other sensitive information, don’t click on any links in the email and don’t reply to it.
• Look for spelling and grammar errors. Phishing emails are often full of spelling and grammar errors. This is a red flag that the email may not be legitimate.
• Check the sender’s email address. If the sender’s email address looks suspicious, don’t click on any links in the email. You can also try to verify the sender’s email address by looking it up on the company’s website.
• Use a spam filter. A spam filter can help to block phishing emails from reaching your inbox.
• Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your computer from malware.

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from phishing scams and keep your online accounts safe.

Also See: Don’t Follow Links in Email or Texts to Help Avoid Phishing Scams

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Why You Should Require a Passcode, Biometric Fingerprint, or Face ID on Your Phone

Your smartphone is a valuable device that contains a wealth of personal information. It’s important to take steps to protect your phone from unauthorized access, and one of the best ways to do that is to require a passcode, biometric fingerprint, or Face ID.

What is a passcode?

A passcode is a short sequence of numbers or letters that you enter to unlock your phone. It’s important to choose a strong passcode that is difficult to guess. Some tips for creating a strong passcode include:

• Using a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols if you can.
• Avoiding using personal information that is easily guessed, such as your birthday or your address.
• Changing your passcode regularly.
• How to change your passcode on and iPhone

What is biometric authentication?

Biometric authentication uses your physical characteristics, such as your fingerprint or face, to identify you. This is a more secure way to unlock your phone than a passcode, because it’s much harder for someone to steal your fingerprint or face than it is to guess your passcode.

Why should you require a passcode, biometric fingerprint, or Face ID?

There are several reasons why you should require a passcode, biometric fingerprint, or Face ID on your phone:

• To protect your personal information. Your phone contains a wealth of personal information, including your contacts, email, photos, and financial information. If your phone is lost or stolen, anyone who finds it could access this information if it’s not protected by a passcode or biometric authentication.
• To prevent unauthorized access to your apps. Many apps require a passcode or biometric authentication to access them. This helps to prevent someone from accessing your apps without your permission.
• To protect your phone from malware. Malware can be used to steal your personal information or lock your phone. A passcode or biometric authentication can help to protect your phone from malware.

How to set up a passcode or biometric authentication

To set up a passcode or biometric authentication on your phone, follow these steps:

1. Go to your phone’s settings.
2. Tap on “Security” or “Biometrics & security.”
3. Tap on “Screen lock” or “Face ID & passcode.”
4. Enter your current passcode, if you have one.
5. Tap on “Set passcode” or “Add a fingerprint or Face ID.”
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a passcode or set up biometric authentication.

Additional tips for protecting your phone

• Keep your phone’s software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your phone from malware.
• Be careful about what apps you download. Only download apps from trusted sources, and be sure to read the app’s permissions before you install it.
• Use a VPN when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi. A VPN can help to protect your privacy and security when you’re using public Wi-Fi.
• Be careful about what information you share online. Don’t share your personal information, such as your Social Security number or your home address, online unless you absolutely need to.

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Don’t Follow Links in Email or Texts to Help Avoid Phishing Scams

Always Go Directly to Sites Using Your Bookmarks to Help Reduce Phishing Scams on Your Accounts

Phishing scams are a major threat to online security. They involve sending emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or credit card company, in order to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link. Once the link is clicked, the scammer can steal the recipient’s personal information, such as their login credentials or credit card numbers.

One of the best ways to protect yourself from phishing scams is to never follow links in email. Instead, always go directly to the website you want to visit by typing the URL into your browser or by using your bookmarks.

Here are some reasons why you should never follow links in email:

• The link may be malicious. Phishing emails often contain links that lead to fake websites that look like the real thing. Once you click on the link, you’ll be asked to enter your personal information, which the scammer can then steal.
• The link may not go where you think it goes. Even if the link appears to go to a legitimate website, it’s possible that it’s been hijacked by a scammer. This means that when you click on the link, you’ll be taken to a fake website that looks like the real thing.
• You can’t be sure who sent the email. Phishing emails are often sent from spoofed email addresses, which means that the sender’s email address doesn’t actually belong to the company or organization they’re claiming to be from. This makes it impossible to know for sure who sent the email, and whether or not it’s legitimate.

By following these simple tips, you can help protect yourself from phishing scams and keep your online accounts safe.

Next: Tips for staying safe from phishing scams

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Setup a Family Authentication Password to Help Prevent Phone Scams

Phone scams are a growing problem, and they can be very costly for victims. One way to protect yourself and your family from phone scams is to set up a family authentication password.

A family authentication password is a secret word that only you and your family members know. If you receive a phone where the call may be using Voice AI Emulating a Voice You Know or maybe using something like a Grandparents Wire Transfer Scam, you can use your family authentication password to confirm it is in fact the family member calling your or they are truly in trouble. If they don’t know the password, you can be sure that the caller is not legitimate.

Setting up a family authentication password is easy. Just choose a word or phrase that is easy for you and your family to remember, but difficult for someone else to guess. You can write the password down and keep it in a safe place, or you can memorize it.

Once you have set up a family authentication password, make sure that everyone in your family knows it. You should also teach your family members about phone scams and how to spot them.

Here are some tips for spotting phone scams:

• The caller will often be very aggressive and demanding.
• The caller may claim that you have unpaid bills or that your account has been compromised.
• The caller may ask for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card number.
• The caller may ask you to make a payment immediately.

If you receive a phone call that seems suspicious, hang up the phone and do not give out any personal information. You can quickly call the family member in question and really see if they were in trouble.

Here are some additional tips for preventing phone scams:

• Never give out personal information over the phone, unless you are sure that the caller is legitimate.
• Be wary of calls that come out of the blue. If you don’t recognize the caller, don’t answer the phone.
• If you do answer a suspicious call, don’t be afraid to hang up.
• If you think you have been scammed, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can do so online at ftc.gov/complaint or by calling 1–877-FTC-HELP.

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Unfreeze Your Credit on Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

Unfreeze Your Credit Online

• Go to the website of the credit bureau you want to unfreeze your credit with.
• Log in to your account.
• Follow the instructions to unfreeze your credit.
• You will need to enter your PIN or password.

How to Unfreeze Your Credit by Phone

• Call the credit bureau’s customer service number.
• Provide the customer service representative with your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth.
• The customer service representative will walk you through the process of unfreezing your credit.

How to Unfreeze Your Credit by Mail

• Download the credit unfreeze form from the credit bureau’s website.
• Complete the form and mail it to the credit bureau’s address.
• You will need to provide the same information that you would provide if you were unfreezing your credit online or by phone.

>> Freeze Your Credit on Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

Freeze Your Credit on Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

Freeze Your Credit on Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

A credit freeze is a free service that you can use to restrict access to your credit report. This can help protect you from identity theft, as it makes it more difficult for someone to open new accounts in your name. Freezing your credit is a simple way to protect yourself from identity theft. It is a free service that you can use at any time. If you are concerned about your identity, I recommend that you freeze your credit.

To freeze your credit, you need to contact each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail.

How to Freeze Your Credit Online

• Go to the website of the credit bureau you want to freeze your credit with.
• Create an account or log in to your existing account.
• Follow the instructions to place a credit freeze.
• You will need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth.
• You may also be asked to create a PIN or password.

How to Freeze Your Credit by Phone

• Call the credit bureau’s customer service number.
• Provide the customer service representative with your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth.
• The customer service representative will walk you through the process of placing a credit freeze.

How to Freeze Your Credit by Mail

• Download the credit freeze form from the credit bureau’s website.
• Complete the form and mail it to the credit bureau’s address.
• You will need to provide the same information that you would provide if you were freezing your credit online or by phone.

How to Unfreeze Your Credit

To unfreeze your credit, you need to contact each of the three major credit bureaus. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail.

Tips for Freezing Your Credit

• Keep a record of the PIN or password you create for each credit bureau.
• Unfreeze your credit before you apply for a new loan or credit card.
• Refreeze your credit after you have completed your application.
• Be aware that some creditors may not be able to access your credit report if it is frozen.

Contact information for the three credit bureaus:

• Experian: 888-EXPERIAN (888–397–3742)
• TransUnion: 800–680–7289
• Equifax: 800–525–6285

>> How to Unfreeze Your Credit on Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Reasons Why You Shouldn't Share your Password

In addition to these risks, sharing passwords makes your personal and professional data vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. Protect yourself and your organization by practicing password best practices that don’t include sharing

Sharing passwords is bad because it can lead to the following risks:

1. You compromise your account security. When you share your password with another person, you essentially grant them access to not only that account, but every account you own that uses the same password.
2. Account becomes more vulnerable for phishing.
3. Potential loss of ownership of your financial and email accounts.
4. Loss of access control.

To protect your accounts from unauthorized access, it is important to use strong passwords that are unique for each account. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. You should also use two-factor authentication whenever possible.

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

How Can a Scammer use My Voice in Scams?

Voice AI is being used in scams in a number of ways, including:

• To create realistic-sounding impersonations. With just a few seconds of audio, scammers can use AI to create a voice that sounds almost identical to a real person. This can be used to trick victims into thinking they are talking to a trusted friend or family member, or to a legitimate business representative.
• To generate synthetic speech. AI can be used to generate synthetic speech that sounds like a real person speaking. This can be used to create fake audio recordings, or to create chatbots that can interact with people in a natural way.
• To identify and target victims. AI can be used to analyze voice recordings to identify people who are more likely to be susceptible to scams. This information can then be used to target these people with more specific scams.

Some of the most common scams that use voice AI include:

• Impersonation scams. In these scams, the scammer calls the victim and impersonates a trusted friend, family member, or business representative. The scammer then uses the voice AI to convince the victim to send money or provide personal information.
• Tech support scams. In these scams, the scammer calls the victim and claims to be from a tech company. The scammer then uses the voice AI to convince the victim that their computer has a problem and that they need to pay for tech support.

It is important to be aware of the risks of voice AI scams and to take steps to protect yourself. Some tips for protecting yourself from voice AI scams include:

• Never give out personal information over the phone, even if the caller claims to be from a trusted source.
• Hang up and call the person you think they may be impersonating using the number in your contact list.

If you think you may have been the victim of a voice AI scam, you should contact your bank or credit card company immediately. You should also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

What's a Scam and How to Avoid Them

A scam is a fraudulent scheme or operation intended to deceive others, typically for financial gain. Scams can take many forms, including:

• Telephone scams: These scams typically involve someone calling you and claiming to be from a legitimate company or government agency. They may say that you owe money, that you have won a prize, or that your computer has been infected with a virus. They will then ask you to provide personal information or to send money.
• Email scams: These scams typically involve an email that appears to be from a legitimate company or person. The email may contain a link that, when clicked, will take you to a fake website that looks like the real website. Once you enter your personal information on the fake website, the scammer can steal it.
• Online shopping scams: These scams involve websites that sell products that do not exist. The websites may look legitimate, but they are actually set up to take your money and never deliver the product.
• In-person scams: These scams involve someone approaching you in person and trying to convince you to give them money. They may say that they are collecting for a charity, that they need money to help their sick child, or that they have lost their wallet.

Scams can be very difficult to spot, but there are some things you can do to protect yourself:

• Be skeptical of any unsolicited calls or emails. If you receive a call or email from someone you don’t know, don’t give out any personal information.
• Be careful about clicking on links in emails. If you’re not sure if a link is legitimate, hover your mouse over it to see the URL. If the URL doesn’t look like it belongs to the company or person who sent you the email, don’t click on it.
• Shop only from reputable websites. Before you make a purchase online, check the website’s security certificate and read the company’s privacy policy.
• Be aware of the signs of a scam. If someone is pressuring you to act quickly, asking for personal information that they don’t need, or refusing to answer your questions, it’s probably a scam.

If you think you’ve been scammed, there are a few things you can do:

• Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can file a complaint online at ftc.gov/complaint.
• Contact your bank or credit card company. They may be able to help you dispute the charges.
• File a police report. This will help law enforcement track down the scammers.

Scams can be a major financial loss, but by being aware of the signs and taking steps to protect yourself, you can help prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Grandparents Wire Transfer Scam

Thousands of people have been scammed out of millions of dollars with the Grand Parent Scam.  A scam artists calls and alleges that your grand children are in trouble and urgently need money wired to get them out of trouble, jail and other non sense.  Their sense of urgency and convincing dialogue drives people to action and to quickly wire money.  Once the money is wired, it's gone.  Western Union actually got in trouble over this and hand to pay $568 million to settle the case.

Don't transfer funds through wire transfer.

Try calling your grandkids and or kids first to try and get a hold of them.

Remember it's probably not true and why didn't they call their parents?

Avoid Western Union and Other Money Transfers

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Beware of Cable TV Companies Drip Pricing

Quick tips to help you save money.

Do you remember when you signed up for cable, they were charging you $80 per month and now you’re paying over $200.  What happened?  Cable companies love to sell you package add-ons.  They’ll tack on a regional sports package for $10, movie package for $20, HD or 4K package for $10, rent you a set top box for $12, on and on.  Take a step back and figure out what you really need and delete the add-ons.  You should also call you cable company every year and try and renegotiate your charges.  If all else fails move to a new cable provider every year and get back to that $80 base rate.

Watch out for Drip Pricing

Reference: 20220802C

Watch out for Drip Pricing

Quick tips to help you save money.

Drip pricing is a marketing technique used in many industries to get you to pay a higher price than the original advertised price.  For example maybe you booked a hotel reservation online and when you show up they tack on a $50 resort fee.  Or maybe you are being an appliance or new tool and the reseller wants you to add on a warranty.  The idea is to lure consumers in with a good advertised price and then tack on charges after the fact.  Make sure that on all your purchases, whether online or in a store, that you go back and check competitive prices with all the options and features added.  

Push back on hidden fees, if you complain about it you may get some of the money back.

You can often find drip pricing in:

New Car Purchases

Retail and Online Stores

Beware of Cable TV Companies Drip Pricing

Cellphones

Internet Service

Travel

Investing

Related:  20220802D - Avoid Drip Pricing Cellphone Data Plans, 20220802E - Watch Your Internet Service Fees for Drip Pricing, 20220802F - Don’t Be Pressured by Rental Car Drip Pricing, 20220802G - Drip Fees on Your Investment Accounts, 20220802H - Extra Drip Fees Added in Your Shopping Cart, 20220802J - Read the Fine Print for Drip Fee Service Charges

Reference: 20220802B

Use Siri to Make a Calendar Appointment on your iPhone

If you haven't tried this it works pretty well.  Invoke Siri on your iPhone.  You can use the home button, or say "Hey Siri" or whatever method you might use to start Siri.  Then just say "Make Eye Doctor Appointment for 10 AM on August 3rd". Siri will make the appointment and add it to your calendar.  

In the example below, that's exactly what I did to have Siri create this appointment for my Eye Doctor.  I said "Hey Siri, schedule my eye doctor appointment with Dr. Wilson at 10 AM on Aug 3rd" and Siri scheduled this appointment.