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In today's digital age, cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated with their attempts to deceive you. They use social engineering techniques via email (phishing), text message (smishing), and phone call (vishing) to try to get you to give them sensitive information or money. But armed with some knowledge, you can spot and avoid these attempts rather than taking the bait.
Common Signs of a Scam
Cyber criminals often disguise their scams by pretending to be a trusted individual or familiar organization, like the Social Security Administration. They may even use official-looking logos, seals, or signatures. However, there are telltale signs that give the scam away.
- Unsolicited requests for personal information like Social Security numbers, bank account details or passwords.
- Promised prizes or offers that seem too good to be true, like a guaranteed high return on investment.
- Urgent language to get you to act quickly without thinking.
- Threatening language to scare you into doing what they say.
- Unusual payment methods like gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, wire or money transfer, or mailing cash.
Tips to Avoid Scams
Staying vigilant and cautious can help you stay one step ahead of cyber criminals. Remember: If it feels off, trust your instincts!
- Never share personal or financial details with someone you don’t know or trust.
- Be skeptical of unsolicited outreach and never use contact information provided in suspicious outreach.
- Resist the pressure to act immediately. Think before you click, respond or open attachments.
- Verify a link is legitimate by hovering your cursor over the link to see where it leads.
- Pay attention to inconsistencies in outreach like:
- Poor spelling and grammar.
- [EXTERNAL] tag on an internal email.
- Unusual or unrecognized sender address/number.
- Reply-to email address different than the sender address.
- If you're still tempted to respond, reach out using information found on an official website or previous legitimate communications.
- Take steps to block unwanted calls and text messages, and report suspicious emails as phishing.
What to Do if You've Been Scammed
If you know or believe you’ve been scammed, don't panic. You can take action to limit the impact and help stop others from being scammed.
- Stop all communication with the cyber criminal immediately and block their number or email address.
- Document and preserve any evidence of the scam, including dates, times, payment amounts, and communications.
- Report the scam to relevant entities such as Technology Services, your financial institution, or local authorities.
- Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- Change associated account passwords and monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity.
Additional Resources