Don't get conned out of your hard-earned cash
One in 10 adults fall victim to a scam or fraud every year. Some get fooled more than once. That's because scammers come up with creative ways to get people to send them money or divulge personal data. Here are some of the common scams making the rounds these days.
Spoofed Phone Number Scams: Has someone left a message on your voicemail or answering machine asking you to call them back? If it appears to be your bank, utility company or credit card company, never hit redial. Always input the real number on your own. It's called "spoofing" when a scammer manipulates your caller ID to make it appear they are calling from a local or known number that won't spark suspicion. When you hit redial, you end up connecting with a scammer - and playing right into their hands.
Romance Scams: Millions of people are using online dating apps or social media to meet people. These "romance scammers" earn your trust and tug at your heart strings with some sort of sob story in order to get you to send them money. The Federal Trade Commission has excellent Consumer Information about Romance Scams. Learn how to avoid this type of scam and how to report it.
Amazon Scams: Real Amazon representatives will never ask to have remote access to your computer. "Amazon scammers" call to let you know your account has been hacked or to confirm a purchase. A recent scam involves people calling, claiming they are from Amazon and explaining that they "accidently" refunded you too much money on an unauthorized purchase. They then demand that you send back a portion of it. Learn more about different types of "Amazon" scams from the Federal Trade Commission.
Streaming Service Scams: Scammers set up fake websites that look like real websites for streaming service activation codes. These fake sites trick you into clicking on links that download malware. Pay close attention to the website name in the URL; phony sites will often have misspellings or suspicious names. Also, look for the small padlock before the URL, this will indicate it is a safe and secure site. The Better Business Bureau has more details about this scam.
Coronavirus Scams: An increasing number of scams offer cures for COVID-19, treatments, test kits or air purifiers. If you receive a phone call, email or text message selling these services or products, it is most likely a scam. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has resources to help you avoid these scams - and other types of coronavirus scams.
AbbyBank can help - and so can others
Never give out your online credentials to anyone who you don't know. But if this should happen, change your password immediately. Give us a call at AbbyBank. We are here to help guide you and answer questions. Here are some other helpful resources:
Learn more about Elder Financial Abuse.
Learn more about ID theft and fraud protection.
AbbyBank is a full-service financial institution with Wisconsin locations in Abbotsford, Appleton, Gresham, Medford, Shawano, Wausau, Weston and Withee.