Call me, maybe: Delete your outgoing voicemail message if it uses your voice and replace it with the default included with your device. Why? Hackers can copy your voice to access protected financial records — or pose as you to rip off your friends and relatives.
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Scammers often spoof retailers or tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft to trick you out of your money. But now and again, cybercriminals pretend to be government officials or agencies. Tap or click here for another phony IRS email that is making the rounds.
The latest version of an impersonation scam is victims supposedly receiving correspondence from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It’s become such a problem that the SEC has issued a warning detailing the dangers of the fraud.
And as the holiday season is underway, several traveling scams have also seen a resurgence. Read on for how to travel safely this holiday and not fall victim to scams.
Here’s the backstory
In many cases, potential victims receive phone calls, voicemails, emails or even snail mail claiming to be from the SEC about unauthorized or suspicious transactions with their checking or crypto accounts.
These scams usually try to get the victims to hand over valuable information to verify their accounts or cancel suspicious transactions.
How to handle an SEC impersonation scam
In its warning to the public, the SEC confirmed that it would never initiate unsolicited communications, including phone calls or emails asking for payment related to enforcement actions, offering to confirm trades or asking for personal and financial information.
The SEC warns everyone to be skeptical if someone contacts you claiming to be from the agency. The scammers could ask for your account numbers, PIN codes, passwords or other sensitive information that may be used to access your financial accounts.
Never give out this information to someone claiming to be from the SEC until you verify the person works for the SEC. Here’s how to verify you’re speaking to someone from the SEC:
Use the SEC’s personnel locator at (202) 551-6000 to reach the staff member directly and ask the person if the communication was from them. Or call (800) SEC-0330 or email help@SEC.gov to check if the communication is from the SEC.
If you think you’ve been contacted by someone impersonating the SEC, submit a complaint at www.sec.gov/oig to the SEC’s Office of Inspector General.
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Hi, you: Old voicemails can be particularly nostalgic when you’re missing someone. Make sure you save yours the right way. I did this with old messages from Mom.