hanging up after just a couple of seconds. The perpetrator hopes that curiosity will prompt the person to call back. But doing so will result in expensive per-minute charges, leaving the caller with an expensive bill if the scammer succeeds in keep them on the line for any length of time...
That's when a scammer contacts a victim and convinces the person that they've been hired at a company and needs to complete employee information. In reality, the scammer is stealing someone's personal information. Victims lost a median $1,995 in employment scams last year, the BBB said....
Once they sense an emotional connection, the scammer will make their move asking you for money perhaps to come and visit or for an emergency. After you've sent the money, they vanish from your life altogether, leaving behind the fake profile to strike again from a new one. Keep an eye ...
The last few years or so have seen rise to the era of scammer documentaries and shows based on con artists-turned-celebrities. One of Netflix's most successful documentaries on the topic is The Tinder Swindler, which opened eyes about how wild the art of catfishing can get. While some li...
The last few years or so have seen rise to the era of scammer documentaries and shows based on con artists-turned-celebrities. One of Netflix's most successful documentaries on the topic is The Tinder Swindler, which opened eyes about how wild the art of catfishing can get. While some li...
Stealing personal information: Spyware can monitor your keystrokes, track your activity, and send sensitive information (like passwords or banking details) back to the scammer. Hijacking your device: Malware can take over functions on your phone, enabling scammers to make unauthorize...
📚 Related:What Can a Scammer Do With Your Medicare Number?→ 10. Synthetic identity theft Synthetic identity theft is when scammers combine your SSN with other information — both real and fake — to create a “new” fake identity. They then use this identity to build up a legitimate cr...
The scammer invents a reason why they need the password — for example, to secure a hacked account immediately. Phishing attacks can take the form of vishing (over phone calls or voice messages), smishing (fake text messages), or emails. Attacks launched over texts or emails can include a ...
After dealing with the immediate threat,consider signing up for identity theft monitoringand freezing your credit to limit future attempts at using your information fraudulently. The Bottom Line SIM swap scams give fraudsters access to your cell phone number, which they can then use to log in to...
Email scams are another major threat. You might receive an email that appears legitimate because the scammer has appropriated the IRS logo or an actual tax software company’s logo. The email may claim to be about your refund, return status, or tax account.20 Links in the email may direct...