Several months ago I shared a few tips on Cyber security. So, here is part 2.
We attended a one day "seminar" which was presented for seniors in our city. It was very informative. All of us are familiar with some of the scams, but the bad guys keep coming up with new ones all the time, and they are very convincing. One of the new scams that emerged in 2019, was cancer screening and cardiovascular genetic testing. They pretend to tell you that your doctor ordered the procedure and get medical information from you, then they bill medicare.They say is free to you. They send the bill to medicare for tests you may or may not have received. If Medicare doesnt pay, you may be responsible for thousands of dollars.
There are four (4) signs that it's a SCAM
1. They pretend to be from an organization you know. They use a familiar name: social security, medicare, IRS, a bank and they sound very official. They also use the latest technology to change the phone number that appears on your phone, to make it look like they are calling from your bank. Someone we know, fell for this trick. The number on her phone appeared to be from her bank and she answered the call, giving the crook information she should not have given out. When she realized the scam, it was too late. Later she had to change all her account numbers on her credit cards, checking account and savings accounts..
2. They say there is a problem or you have won a Prize. They may say you owe money, someone in your family has an emergency, or there is a virus on your computer. Some may say you won money, but you need to pay a Fee to get it.
3. They pressure you to act IMMEDIATELY. They don't want you to have time to think and they play on your emotions. They may threaten to arrest you or sue you, or take away your driver's license.
4. They ask you to pay in a specific way. Usually they ask you to pay with a gift card. They may send you a fake check and ask for you to deposit it and then send them more money.
These are signs of scams and we all need to be vigilant and alert of their schemes so that we don't become their victims. Most of the callers are from other countries. Most scams, we were told, come from Russia, China, India and places like Jamaica. This is big business, and they are pros at what they do.
BE AWARE!
To avoid being a target for these scumbags do a couple of things:
- Block unwanted numbers
- Don't answer the phone if you don't know who they are ( they can leave a message)
- Don't give out any personal or financial information.
- Resist the pressure to act immediately
- Talk to someone you trust
- Report any suspicious activities to your financial institutions or the authorities
We are all vulnerable. Most people who have fallen for these scams, say that the person sounded very legitimate. These callers are well trained and know what to say to throw you off. Again, be careful and don't fall for their lies. Hope that this helped.
Enjoy your day!
