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5 texts you must ignore this holiday season
Scammers draw from a bottomless bag of tricks to get you to hand over your money. They dramatically ramp up their actions when there’s a global event or an upcoming holiday. Not even Veterans Day is safe. Tap or click here for a story that proves criminals have no shame.
The holiday season is another hot ticket. With people buying so much during these months, money and retail scams are ramping up.
You must be extra vigilant against criminals around this time. You don’t want to deal with the additional stress of losing money or personal information. Read on for five scams to watch out for and what you can do to protect yourself against them.
1. Short or single-word texts
Text messages are often jam-packed with information, so receiving a message with one word or a short phrase might be strange. Unless you know the number the message is coming from, continue with caution.
Scammers regularly send single-word texts saying “Hi” or “How are you?” hoping to initiate a conversation. Once they’ve gained your trust, it often leads to a request for money or personal details.
Never give information to someone you don’t trust or haven’t met in person. These schemes can turn into romance scams, and they have no interest in making a meaningful connection.
2. Missed delivery notification
Countless dollars change hands as people shop for gifts and holiday supplies. While some prefer to pick things up from a store, others enjoy the comfort of home deliveries through retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.
But it’s not always practical to be home at the exact moment the delivery van rolls by. If you’re out, the company might text or email saying the delivery couldn’t be made. Unfortunately, criminals are using the same tactics to trick you.
They often send fake missed delivery notifications with a phone number to call or a link to click to reschedule it. But beware! The links can lead to malicious websites that steal personal information or ask for banking details.
Don’t call the number either, as the operator could try to convince you to install remote software that lets them take control of your device.
Buy now, pay later isn’t as simple as you think
You see them on about every shopping site now. Think of “BNPL” (buy now, pay later) as a short-term financing plan. With a few clicks, you request a limited loan agreement to pay for items over time.
Even Apple is getting in on the action. With Apple Pay Later, buy that $1,000 iPhone today and pay it off over four payments. PayPal has one, too, along with services like Afterpay, Affirm and Klarna.
Just got scammed? Stop here
It’s tough to figure out your next move when you’re stressed out. But the Better Business Bureau has a tool that can guide you in the right direction.
Zip it: If your phone rings and someone says, “Can you hear me?” or “Is this [your name]?” hang up. Scammers record your “Yes” to create voice authorizations for bank account access. Bonus points if you report shady numbers to the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker.
Be careful before you hit “buy” on social media
I remember the first time I fired up TikTok to see what it was all about. In about 10 minutes, the darn app’s algorithms kicked into gear. On my feed, aside from people dancing all over the globe, were vids about vegetarian dishes, travel tips and golden retrievers. And you know what … it was pretty hard to put down, a total time suck. After three days, I removed it from my phone.
Looking for a job? Don't fall for this scam
Though many companies are calling employees back to the office, plenty of remote job opportunities exist. Tap or click for companies offering work-from-home positions right now.
An online company that promises high-paying jobs with the United States Postal Service (USPS) was recently hacked. Security researchers found leaked data on 900,000 customers, including complete credit card records.
These Chinese-owned apps are dangerous — Get them off your phone
TikTok has been facing significant backlash worldwide for collecting data on its users. It’s already been banned from government and military devices in the U.S., and there’s been a push for its Chinese owners to sell their shares in the company. Here’s what’s happening so far.
Scammers are using your TV against you to get you to pay up
Anything that connects to the internet can be hacked. However, many people wrongly assume that smart TVs are immune. Tap or click here for four vital steps to protect your online accounts from hackers and scammers.
While there isn’t much personal information stored on your TV, hackers can cause trouble in other ways. A new trend is thieves forcing pop-ups onto unsuspecting victims’ smart TVs. If you fall for them, you’ll end up handing your money to crooks.
Looking for free COVID tests? Don't do this
Life is almost back to normal after a rough couple of years dealing with a global pandemic. At-home COVID tests became a must-have item to navigate the crisis. While there are legit ways to get these tests for free, scammers are now cashing in with elaborate phishing schemes. Things are so bad that the Better Business Bureau is sounding the alarm.
Valentine's Day scams: How to spot 4 sneaky tricks (that fool lots of people)
If you plan something special for Valentine’s Day, you want to ensure everything goes alright. Of course, there are 10 clever ways Alexa can help you set the mood.
But as we’ve cautioned often, scammers are out in full force when there is a special day, a global tragedy or a national event. The day of love is no exception. It’s estimated that nearly $26 billion will be spent this Valentine’s Day, so cybercriminals see it as a lucrative venture.
Don’t fall for this Facebook scam that steals your password
Social media accounts are more valuable to cybercriminals than you might think. Tap or click for 10 accounts more valuable to cybercriminals than your credit card. That’s why thieves are constantly finding new ways to steal credentials. That brings us to a recent Facebook phishing attack. If you fall for it, you’re handing over your account to criminals.
Security warning: Watch out for Social Security scammers
Since much information is tied to your Social Security number, scammers often look for ways to get their hands on it. A recent change to Social Security benefits has scammers out in full force, and you must know how to protect yourself.
Want to shed some pounds? Don’t fall for these weight loss scams
Overwhelmed by your New Year’s resolutions? We can help you get started with a critical one: improving your cybersecurity. These five tech resolutions will carry you through this year and beyond.
Losing weight is among the most common resolutions and, unfortunately, scammers are waiting to pounce. The crooks know that January and February are the best times to trick people into buying phony products or signing up for fake newsletters.
Taking surveys to earn money? Don't fall for scams out to get your info
The new year is upon us, and what better way to get a headstart than to bring in some extra cash? There are several ways to go about this, from selling your old stuff to renting out your property. Tap or click here for five ways to save and make money in 2023.
Watch out: Fake coupons spreading on social media
If you haven’t done the bulk of your Christmas shopping by now, you might have to brave the hordes of people crammed into a mall. If you’re shopping online, don’t fall for this fake seller scam.
A recent study found that the average American spends around $800 on holiday gifts. That’s a lot of money, so you might consider using coupons to lessen the financial blow. But before you signup for that website that promises amazing discounts, be careful.
Watch out for fake business letters that trick owners into overpaying
At the start of this year, 33.2 million small businesses were operating in the U.S. Estimates say they make up about 99% of all companies in the country. That is a considerable percentage of owners who need to navigate the challenges of running a company. Tap or click here for free resources to grow your business.
New Facebook scam banks on you sharing a heartbreaking post
The holidays are upon us, so you’re probably doing some online shopping to complete the endless gift list. Be extra careful this holiday season, as the number of thieves targeting online shoppers is incredibly high. Tap or click here for eight ways to avoid holiday shopping scams.
Warn the students in your family: Data leak + student loan scam
Thieves are always on the lookout for new ways to rip you off. They often send phishing emails trying to trick you into clicking malicious links that install malware onto your device or steal account credentials.
More brazen criminals will even have the courage to call you on the phone. They will spin an elaborate scheme hoping to scam you out of your money. If you fall for a scam, some steps must be taken immediately. Tap or click here for details.
Shopping for holiday decorations? Don’t fall for this online shopping scam
The holiday season is nearing rapidly, which means many are shopping for decorations. Stores have already started playing Christmas jingles, and their decorations are up in full force. Tap or click here for the best way to avoid spoiling gifts you purchased on Amazon.