IRS Fraud is on the rise: People impersonating IRS agents, or your bank are calling, particularly the elderly, and demanding personal information and/or cash payments. Many times, the phone number looks like the call is from an IRS number. Phone numbers can easily be faked, using readily available technology that all good scammers possess. The IRS is not going to call you and demand immediate payment or ask you for your vital information, such as your social security number, date of birth, etc.
Solution: Any IRS communications will come via mail, which is their preferred method of communication. Any letter you receive from the IRS can easily be verified by contacting your local IRS office. Should you get a call about an IRS matter, do not make a payment without contacting your local field office to verify the problem and the amount owed.
Credit Card Fraud: Consumers lose $8.8 billion annually in credit card fraud. More companies than you would think have weak cyber security and that includes our government. Criminals steal your info and create a “virtual you” to obtain fraudulent credit.
Solution: Freeze your credit via the three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Your credit can be unfrozen in a matter of a few minutes should you need a loan or new credit card. After your loan or credit card is approved, refreeze your credit immediately.
Taking your Computer Hostage: Scammers love to use malware on your digital devices and then ransom your device’s release.
Solution: Ignore all emails that say you have some kind of issue with an account and that you need to go online to straighten it out, including everything from Facebook to Amazon. Log in to your account on these websites (in a separate tab or window, not from a provided link) to determine if a problem exists. Don’t click links from emails unless you’re expecting an email from someone you know.
Downloading Harmful Games: Tech Goddess, Kim Komando, warns us that downloading software or games from links on FB or other social media sites is risky. Scammers are now using free game and other apps to install malware on your computer or mobile device. They attract you to their malware by using ads or posts on FB and other sites.
Solution: Only download software from official app stores.
Romance scams cost $3.5 billion-plus annually. Loneliness among older Americans is at an epidemic level, and scammers are happy to take advantage. Scammers will befriend targets online. FB and LinkedIn and other social media sites are their hunting grounds. Honestly it gets tiresome to both of us with all the “hot women” or “hot men” who suddenly want to strike up a new friendship with us. Trust us, this is always Gordy in a warehouse somewhere attempting multiple romance scams simultaneously.
Solution: Don’t send anyone money online that you have never met. Now I agree, sometimes over years, you can develop legit friendships online. We certainly have. In those cases, never send friends more money than you could easily do without. When you do send anyone money, use Venmo or a similar payment method. Sending someone you don’t know well a written check has unfortunately become a very bad idea because they can use the numbers on your check to access your account.
Political Contributions: During election season, you get many email solicitations and texts for donations. Anyone can send you a message saying they represent a candidate, a cause, or a political party with an accompanying link for a donation.
Solution: If you want to donate to a candidate or political organization, go to that candidate’s website and make your desired donation at that site.
AI Scams: A relative or close friend calls you and requests cash for an emergency or some personal information. You cannot trust phone requests for cash since scammers have harnessed AI to impersonate your friends, family or even your employer.
Solution: Hang up and call your friend or relative back. Even if they claim they are in jail and you can’t call them back, you can contact the jurisdiction where they have allegedly been jailed to arrange their bail and release.
Medical Scams: People who identify themselves from a medical facility call you and tell you that you owe a medical charge, or they need some personal information from you.
Solution: Call them back on a verified number to discuss the issue.
Organized crime has now become cybercrime and it’s a very large industry. Protect yourself by being overly conservative with the links you click, which emails you respond to, and by freezing your credit. If you receive unsolicited calls, be especially cautious. Anyone that wants you to pay via gift cards, gold bars, or crypto should automatically be considered a scammer.
—Larry & Lisa Faulkner
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