A new credit card fee: Several credit card companies, including Citibank and Synchrony Bank, are charging a $1.99 monthly fee for paper statements. Printing and mailing costs financial institutions $600 million, so they want us to pay for it. Call your card company and ask them to email you the “Schumer box.” It’s an easy-to-read table of all their fees.
Ask Kim: 'Is my new online friend tricking me?'
I got a call from Jim in Sacramento about a new friend he met on Facebook. She messaged him out of the blue and they hit it off (just friends, he’s married). Now, she’s introduced him to her aunt, who happens to be great with crypto.
“The aunt showed me three trades where I made 15% with a $500 investment in 10 minutes while I watched on WhatsApp. I have lost no money at this point. Before I give the aunt $10,000, I wanted to know your thoughts.”
I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news
This is a classic pig-butchering scam. I know it all seems like things just fell into place, and that’s the point.
How am I so sure? What’s happening here is following the exact script these criminals use. I’ll outline it for you.
- Cold outreach: It starts with a random text, friend request, DM or comment. They’re friendly and chatty.
- Feeding time: They want to know about your life, maybe send you photos and tell you about what they’re in. After a while, money comes up. It’s usually under the guise of an investment opportunity.
- Fattening the pig: This is where money changes hands — but only a tiny amount. They’ll ask you to test with a small investment. Surprise, your money is growing already!
- Slaughter: Now you’re convinced and have invested even more. At this stage, victims can be in for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. You may realize something is wrong and ask to remove your money. It’s way too late.
Jim, you’re the pig, and you’re getting greedy. Keep it up, and you will be slaughtered.
🚩 Red flag 1: A random woman messaged you out of nowhere and wanted to be friends. Sorry, but that never ends well.
🚩 Red flag 2: This stranger just happens to have a relative who has made it big in crypto. Who shares that with someone they just met? I wouldn’t.
🚩 Red flag 3: The initial investment went gangbusters.
You need to walk away. Document everything first, though. Take screenshots of your conversations, the websites these people have directed you to, bank statements, all of it. This is important evidence if you try to get your cash back and everything hits the fan.
Then, it’s time to unfriend and block your new pal.
A warning to Costco customers - Card skimmers spotted stealing card info
Shopping online comes with hidden dangers, and many are still uneasy about the process. Those people usually prefer to go into a physical store, as they deem it somewhat safer. But that isn’t always the case.
Card payment facilities are incredibly vulnerable to attack from hackers or criminals, as they have had years to refine their techniques. Recently card skimmers have been running rampant around the country.
This tricky new email campaign cons YOU into calling scammers
Scammers sometimes use targeted emails to draw you into a malicious website, called phishing. This is just one way they target you.
By leaving voice messages on your mobile phone, scammers will also try to trick you into sending them your personal information. This type of scam is called vishing, and it has become more widespread in recent months.
Gas pump skimmers can steal your money - How to spot them and protect your credit card
You wouldn’t think your local gas station is a hotspot for cybercriminals. But you’d be wrong. These crafty thieves have been ripping people off for years at gas stations.
The common method is through card skimming and can be done in the blink of an eye. Criminals attach a card reading device to the pay point at the pump and capture your credit or debit card’s details. Tap or click here to see the difference between skimmers and shimmers.
With just your name and a few bucks, someone can steal your benefits - here's how
Millions of Americans have had to file for unemployment over the last year, thanks to the pandemic. The toll COVID took on the economy has caused widespread joblessness and financial hardships for many, many people.
While concerning, the explosion of unemployment claims isn’t exactly surprising. Nearly every state has had to shut down businesses, schools and other mainstays at one point or another to help slow the spread of the virus. Unemployment has been extremely important in helping people who are out of work when jobs are hard to come by.
Money-saving tip: See all the apps you're paying for and cancel the ones you don't use
Do you have ongoing subscriptions to streaming services like Hulu or Netflix? Chances are you do. Most of us use at least one streaming service for entertainment, whether for listening to music, podcasts or binge-old movies.
Are you paying for Android apps you don’t use? Here’s how to cancel them
It’s so easy to get roped into a new subscription or two when you’re using your phone or tablet. It starts with those enticing free app trials and ends with months and months of autopayments for services you aren’t using.
Warning! Can you spot the ATM hidden camera? Crafty crooks are stealing your account info
