Consumer Alert
Don’t take the bait on phishing scams
Have you ever gotten a text or email warning you that something is wrong with an account online? Maybe it says your streaming account is about to be suspended unless you respond quickly. It might even have a link that will supposedly fix your account’s problems. The message looks real. But is it?
Your first instinct might be to click to solve your problems. Don’t click. There’s likely nothing wrong. Instead, it might be a phishing scam. That’s when scammers pose as well-known companies to get you to give up sensitive information via text or email. A phishing email might:
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
While real companies might send you emails or text messages, they won’t do things like send a link to update your payment information. Only scammers do that. Even opening a link in an unexpected text or email can expose you to scammers — even if you don’t enter any sensitive info.
So, don’t click on any links in unexpected emails or texts. If you’re concerned, contact the company directly using a link you already use or a phone number you know is correct. And if you think you’ve given someone your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, report it at IdentityTheft.gov and get a recovery plan. If you clicked on a link in an unexpected email, update your security software and run a scan to look for viruses and malware.
Then report the phishing scam. Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, forward suspicious texts to SPAM (7726), and forward suspicious emails to ReportPhishing@apwg.org.
Its running rampant. The website that swindled me out of a lot of money is still up and running.
In reply to Its running rampant. The… by Joseph St John
What website is that?
My friends and I were talking about this very thing Monday. We are all 73-79 and receive these emails and we KNOW not to respond. I always go to my real account to make sure everything is ok. Xfinity and Amazon are who I get the most.
I always click the sender, it turns blue and tells me who sent it and it is never the real person. Feel so sorry for those who are scammed. Wise up Boomers!
Thank you for this notification. I and my wife were just speaking about we both have received these types of emails. The thing that makes them look legit is that they have the last four digits of our account numbers.
Daily I receive emails saying a payment could not be processed. I'm not surprised. I don't have accounts with any of them. I wish they would carry their threats to cancel the non-existent accounts.
What a great article, and so true. Thanks for putting this out there, everyone needs to be informed and know how to protect themselves. I once fell victim to this scam and that was enough.
Thank you!
Thanks for your information. Important to all us senior citizens
Thanks a lot.
I receive emails almost daily that I know are scams and I don't even open them. My concern now is that my SSN, birthday, phone number and email are on the dark web because I was included in the National Public Data security breach. I have already frozen my number on all credit reporting agencies. Other than keeping an eye on credit reports, credit cards, and bank accounts, is there anything else I can do? I run my scans regularly, looking for viruses and malware.
I may be wrong, but usually if an email refers to someone I don’t recognize, I just delete it without opening at all. I also put them in my ‘spam’ folder, though that doesn’t assure that they won’t keep sending more. It must be nice not having anything better to do than attempting to rip people off all day! Shameful! Is this the correct way to handle these things? Thank you!
Thanks, very good info.
Thank you everyone for ever so much for some incredible new information. This is so helpful.
Please continue to provide vital and valuable information
Thanks
This is a great piece for all of us, and especially the unsuspecting novice trying to learn "how to use their computer."
Also, I have notice that the url or email the scam has been sent from may intentionally misspell a word. Whereas it looks real BUT, once you take a closer look, you will see that there is a letter purposely left off or added (like a double "d" where the correct spelling is only one "d").
Rg
Received a call saying they were checking on possible fraudulent charges on one of my credit cards. They said charges had been made at CVS and Amazon in a different state. Fun fact is that the Citi card they mentioned had been closed as I hadn’t used it in a couple years. Then they said that someone reopened it and transferred me to someone else. He started talking and I just said this sounds like a scam and I’m calling the card company and hung up. No charge had been made and no attempt to reopen. Nothing new on credit report either.
Thank-you for this information.
I appreciate your professional notice as a senior citizen.
Thank you for this valuable information.
How do apply
for Identity theft
Report
In reply to How do apply for Identity… by VH
Report identity theft and get an Identity Theft Report at www.IdentityTheft.gov.
Thank you for this info! I get these scams often, mostly from Netflix saying I need to update my billing info. I know my account has already been paid thru my bank account. I also get e-mails from Norton, PayPal, & McAfee saying they have taken thousands of dollars from my account for years of service. I don't use any of these. I had identity theft in 2022 & thousands taken from my bank account, transfers from my credit card & money market. They opened credit cards in my name & it took forever to get that straightened out. I froze all my accounts on Experian, etc.
How do I report a scam voicemail on my phone?
They even do it if you are looking for a job. Those jobs that pay really well and too good to be true, usually are not true.
You cant mention it enough the email is floating with scam plus in the mail scams.
I got a message to call the Mortgage company,, not true, I called said not so it is a scam. Made copy of notice and send to Bank.
How can we get rid of scammers they are everywhere .
Thanks again for Hands up.