Consumer Alert
The best way to protect your information from scammers? Recognize a phishing scam
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Scammers know how valuable your personal and financial information is — and they’ll do or say almost anything to get it. What can you do to keep it safe?
The best way to protect your info from scammers is to recognize a phishing scam, but how do you know what to look for? Here’s an example.
Say you get an unexpected text, email, or call that looks like it’s from a company you know, like Microsoft or Apple. They claim there’s a problem with your account and say you need to click a link or call a number to update your info as soon as possible. They might even say they’ve noticed suspicious activity or log-in attempts on your account. The alert may seem like it’s coming from a company you know, but it’s a scammer who wants to steal your info — which could lead to identity theft.
Here’s how to keep your info safe from scammers:
- Don’t give your info to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Honest organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your info, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.
- Don’t click on any links. If you get an email or text from a company you know and do business with, contact them using a website you know is real. Or look up their phone number — but don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.
- Update your security software. This will protect your computer and phone from security threats, which could expose your personal or financial info to scammers.
You might spot these frauds — but someone you know might need support. Please share this info with your friends, family, and fellow servicemembers and veterans during Military Consumer Month and all year round. And report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Scams
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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.
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- We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
- We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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July 19, 2023
This is well written. The information is succinct and easy to read for anyone.
July 19, 2023
Yes please do all of this I was a victim more then once u never think it can happen to you. Be so careful an change ur passwords on reg basic they have a mirror program that they use becareful
July 19, 2023
A lot of phishing scams are emails that purport to come from a friend, usually with a cheerful not saying to click to receive photos, etc.
July 19, 2023
I got a text message last night , it read, Your federal tax return was refused, but don't worry we will help you, just click on the link below ~
Blocked & Deleted ~
July 19, 2023
Great advice.
July 19, 2023
Right click an email and select to see the "raw" message. In that raw data, near the top, look for the "Return-Path". It will show you the true address from which the email was sent.
July 19, 2023
I have received messages and emails thanking me for my (expensive) non-existent purchase. This is alarming. The first time I received such a "thank you" I independently contacted the (real) company. They asked me to forward the message. It is my impression that this FTC alert does not directly address the scam congratulatory, thank you or large purchase messages. And I thank you for your contributions to consumer safety and peace of mind.
July 19, 2023
Have received several emails claiming to be from ups. Said were unable to deliver a package. Was supposed to schedule a delivery time but I was unable to do so. This happened once before. Told a ups employee about it and he said they do not text or send emails. They leave a slip on the door.
July 19, 2023
Thanks so much for this information. I have to hear it time and time again to be sure that I don't ignore a fraudulent situation.
July 19, 2023
Thank you for keeping us informed on technology issues!
I’d like read, an article on keeping your entire home network safe, including wireless home security cams, and our homes Alexa devices.
July 19, 2023
How about Congress acting to pass some privacy and data security laws AND fund their enforcement that are at least as useful/protective as the EU has? How about Congress creating private causes of action to enforce existing weak protection (w/award of attorney fees if they prevail) instead of having to rely on underfunded & too often w/political appointees who care more about corporate profits then the public welfare and consumer protection? I'm tired of hearing about what individuals end up having to do, when corporations aren't held responsible for failing to protect the security of personal data they demand/require (such as health insurers, health care providers, banks, etc, HIPAA is useless in that respect it benefits health insurers more then anyone else) and when the supposedly powerful US seems wholly unable to stop phishers or even require cell providers and telecommunications corporations to provide any consumer who wants it w/effective robocall blockers, etc.
July 19, 2023
This is another great resource for consumers. I work at a bank, and we are seeing phishing become more and more successful in luring people into scams. Thank you for this!
July 26, 2023
Yesterday I received an email thanking me for a nonexistent purchase, with an attachment. I did not open the attachment and sent the email to the trash folder. Today I received a similar email thanking me for a purchase, with an attachment also. I again sent it to the trash folder. Each email purportedly came from a person with a weird name, and the language in them was not standard American. I used to get spam phone calls. I think the creeps have switched to phishing. Each time I checked my accounts and nothing seemed out of place. From now on I will send them straight to trash without reading.
August 07, 2023
why doesn,t the FTC but a stop on those pretending to be the GEEK SQUAD
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