Ask most people and they will tell you that they would never
knowingly give out their personal identity information to a stranger. However,
just as you are good at what you do for a living, scammers are just as good at
fulfilling their job descriptions - to scam. And they are quite clever when it
comes to getting your personal information.
Some scammers send emails, texts, or WhatsApp messages
offering appealing giveaways or deals. They will tell you that in order to
receive your deal, you must follow a link to an unknown website address or
worse, give them your personal identity details. If you receive an offer via
email or message that looks too good to be true and claims to be from a
well-known brand, it's probably a scam. Take note. Links in scam messages are
often shortened so they don't appear as the full, official website, and you
don't know where they are taking you.
Another new ploy to scam unsuspecting people is called QR
code jacking. Quick Response (QR) codes work like a barcode to access websites
that enable you to order and pay for goods and services, such as pub meals or
parking. However, fraudsters have started sticking these codes to parking
meters, restaurant menus, leaflets, and electric charging points. Anyone who
uses the code will be directed to a fake website set up by fraudsters that
requests bank details for payment. This information is used by scammers to
steal money from victims' bank accounts. Make sure you avoid paying through a
QR code that's placed in a public area. If you are using a QR code to pay for a
service such as a restaurant meal, double-check that the website you are
directed to is genuine. You can do this by looking at the website URL and
ensuring it's valid or verifying with a staff member. When in doubt, pay the old-fashioned
way.
Speaking of QR codes, another scam that involves the use of
a QR code is called quishing. Quishing
occurs when a fraudster sends an email that contains a QR code and claims to be
from an official organization, such as a bank, or a major retailer. The email
may claim you can buy a product using the code, get money back, or that you
need to provide your details for security. This is a big no-no. Again, check
the legitimacy of the site that QR takes you to, and do not give away your
information.
There is a new, alarming message going around Facebook
threatening to disable user accounts if they don't hand over personal
information to "verify" their account. The message tells users they
posted content on their page that misleads users and that their accounts will
be disabled if they don't confirm their account details, including personal
information, within 24 hours. This also is a scam. You may even get a message
from Facebook claiming that you posted something using someone else's fake name
or shared misleading content. Facebook states if you get suspicious messages
claiming to be from Facebook, don't click on the links.
Finally, make certain you know how to handle your finances
through your banking institution if you suspect you have been scammed. At
Telhio, if you suspect you have been a victim of identity theft or financial
fraud of any kind, contact us so that we can help.
For further information about identity theft and fraud,
visit www.consumerfinance.gov. To
learn more about Telhio and how to protect your finances, visit telhio.org/security.
