I’m
calling from ABC bank. Someone is using your credit card ending 3456 at the
grocery store. I’ll need to verify your Social Security number to stop the
unauthorized activity of the card.
Before answering the phone, you look at the caller ID and
shows the name of your bank. And the caller seems very concerned about the
misuse of your credit card and knows the last four digits of the card. Does it
mean it’s legit? No. It’s a type of scam.
How much do you know about the type of scams? Test your
knowledge.
Which of the following are made-up words?
A. Phishing
B. Smishing
C. Spoofing
D. Smurfs
The answer is D.
Phishing is when you get emails, text, or calls that look
or sound like they are from companies or people you trust. This is called
phishing.
Smishing stands for short message service (combines short
message service + phishing), is a text message masking as a company or bank
with a link or phone number for calling. Scammers may try to pressure you into
downloading malware to your smartphone.
Spoofing is when a caller manipulates the information on
your caller ID display to disguise their identify. Spoofing may appear as a
local number or a government agency to entice you to answer and provide
personal information. The above example is a spoofing scam.
Tips to avoid scams:
- Be skeptical about the caller ID. If someone is asking you to confirm personal financial information or asking for money—hang up. Report any scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Check your credit report. It’s a good habit to check your credit report to confirm all your loans, credit cards are yours and not someone else. We get one free credit report, you may get it online at annualcreditreport.com. The three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—you get a free credit report from each agency.
- Informed Delivery® by USPS®-sign up for the program it’s at no cost. When you register, you will get an email of scan images of your incoming mail before it makes it physically to your home.
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