As autumn approaches hackers and scammers continue to  slither in cyberspace  concocting unlikely tales  and promising riches fit for kings and queens.  Hiding behind masks  of anonymity they embed  malware and viruses inside seemingly harmless posts and unsuspecting users become entangled in complex webs of deceit by pushing a single button.

Here’s  a few tips on how to avoid scary clicks and cheats:

If shopping online for costumes and holiday gear, be sure the URL is spelled correctly and look for HTTPS (not HTTP) and a padlock icon in the address bar before entering payment info. The “S” (secure) combined with the padlock  indicates your information is safe.

When visiting Facebook do not click on any links that promise a chance to win a new iPhone 6, a dream vacation,  a new car etc.  Clicking on phony links redirects your personal information to hackers intent on using it for their own personal gain.

Never give out personal information on social media and ignore any  emails or requests that demand your account information and/or password info. Your money will vanish and so will the cons. Report any issues to actual vendors when applicable and check your bills regularly for any unauthorized charges.

New scams and variations of old ones creep up this time of year  like goblins on Halloween. Make-believe is fun but  threats to your security are real. Be safe and don’t let your click become a treat for the greedy monsters hiding in their invisible worlds.

We’re all familiar with the small storage devices called thumb drives, flash drives, or memory sticks. A tiny circuit board holds vast amounts of information that we are able to share and retrieve within seconds and the added ease of portability is a plus when working on different devices. We all  take safety precautions on our personal electronic devices and need to take it a step further when using flash drives.

Many drives are preprogrammed by manufacturers to contain certain information. As users we have the ability to store whatever we want and therein lies  the problem. Hackers use their own flash drives to  install invasive and infected software  on  our computers and  our accounts and personal information are compromised  in seconds with the click of a button and a smile. By the time we find out, it may be too late to repair the damage. Here’s some tips to prevent a UFO attack:

Never let a stranger use your computer. In addition to invasive programs that  may be stored on their flash drives ,  malware, spyware, and other viral programs can be downloaded directly onto your hard drive. The saying “stranger danger” applies to electronics too!

Use only reputable services for repairs.

Keep your anti-virus programs up to date and schedule regular scans. Free anti-virus programs provide some protection, but remember, if it’s free to you, it’s free to hackers, too, and they can easily figure out ways to work within  those programs  as well.

Using USBS can be as easy as 1-2-3 and fraud awareness is totally free! Think twice before allowing anyone access to your devices and data and always PYA (Protect Your Assets)!

School may be out for the summer but scammers never take a break from ripping off consumers. Navigating scholarship and financial aid forms can be tricky, especially for students eager to continue their education. Many reputable businesses charge a fee to assist with the application process, but unscrupulous cons take the money and make promises they can’t keep.

There are no money-back guarantees when it comes to scholarship applications. Refund requirements are impossible to meet and students lose their money and scholarship opportunities in the process. High pressure sales tactics demanding up-front fees can be intimidating. Students can turn to counselors or other reputable sources for help.

Never give bank account or debit card information to “confirm eligibility” for a grant or loan or to “reserve” a scholarship. There is no such thing.

There is no fee to process a FAFSA application. For more information on financial aid options call 1-800-4-FED-AID or visit http://www.studentaid.gov and http://fafsa.ed.gov/options.

Have a safe and scam-free summer!

 Caller ID Spoofing is sweeping across the nation and startled consumers are seeing their own phone numbers displayed on their Caller ID screens. Here’s what you need to know about this numbers game.

Specialized software allows scammers to program their phones with telephone numbers that may look familiar in particular areas.  For example, local business  numbers and your neighbor’s name may appear on the screen in a ruse to get you to answer your phone. Offers to lower interest rates, apply for credit, or to verify  account information are all tactics to try to get you to reveal personal information. The numbers on the Caller ID screen are actually pilfered  from phone books and public records and are used as false identifiers for con artists making the calls.

The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 was signed into law in December 2010 and prohibits the transmission of misleading or inaccurate Caller ID information with the intent to commit fraud or cause harm and includes strict penalties for violators.  If you are receiving suspicious calls or messages, don’t call back or press the buttons they request for a response. It lets the callers know they have reached a legitimate number and can pave the way for more calls.

Caller ID is not scam proof and can be manipulated so don’t use it as a  safety tool. Any requests for personal account information should raise red flags unless you have initiated the call and are certain of why the person is asking and remember that Robocalls are computer generated and bypass the Do Not Call Registry because the computers don’t check the list prior to dialing.

If you would like more information on Caller ID Spoofing or need to file a complaint please call the FCC at 1-888-225-5322 or visit their website at www.fcc.gov.  Let scammers know you’ve got their number!

The phone rings and an unfamiliar number flashes on Caller ID. A strange voice booms out of the receiver claiming you owe money to some company you never heard of and before you can answer, the recording beeps and your answering machine is full. The following day the same ritual repeats itself in the morning and again at night. Before responding to calls from strangers consumers need to know their rights when dealing with debt collectors.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) deals with the enforcement of rules set up by the Federal Trade Commission to protect consumers from certain deceptive or abusive debt collection practices. According to the FTC,  Debt Collection was the second highest complaint in 2013 with 204,644 complaints registered representing 10% of all complaints for the year. While many debt issues are legitimate and can be worked out in an appropriate manner, some unscrupulous callers bully, threaten, and frighten consumers in the quest to collect money. Here are some tips on your rights:

Calls are limited between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. unless you agree to other arrangements.

Within 5 days of first contact with you, a debt collector must send you a written notice which includes the name of the creditor, amount owed, and instructions on how to proceed to dispute the debt if you wish.

Threats, harassment, and fabrications are prohibited. Debt collectors cannot make false statements or misrepresent themselves in order to collect money nor can they threaten you in any way.

It is important to note that each state has their own set of debt collection laws in addition to the guidelines in FDCPA. For more information on your rights as a consumer visit the National Association of Attorneys General website at www.naag.org. There is a listing for each state which includes a mailing address, phone number, and email for contacting the proper department. The FTC also provides information at www.ftc.gov/credit or call them at 1-877-382-4357. No one likes to be in debt and knowing  your rights can lead to a payoff that pleases everyone.

Vacations are filled with wishes, hopes, and dreams and in many ways are rewards for jobs well-done. We makes lists, buy new clothes, and tuck money away for all the little extras that may come our way. Dreams can come true on vacations, but so can nightmares when scam artists hijack  itineraries and send travelers  on trips down rip-off lane.

Technology allows us the opportunity to pick and choose where we want to go and how to get there. With a click on a link  we can be on the road to relaxation but that same button can send us to a scam artist intent on ruining  plans and stealing hard-earned money.  Before planning your dream vacation or  retreating to a get-a-way rental home, take a few minutes and heed some of the warning signals ahead.

Slow down when viewing pictures of properties online. Scammers manipulate real estate ads and post them online pretending to be agents and/or landlords of the property. Check property   appraiser records for ownership info and search Google (www.google.com )  to take a peek at the location using their street view option.

                                                              Proceed with caution when something seems too good to be true. Discounted rents and below average  offers can be enticements for you to release personal information on bogus forms designed to look like legitimate rental agreements. Never sign a lease for an unseen property and be sure to read fine print on paperwork if the deal is legitimate.

Stop and think before making any payments. NEVER send cash and do not use wire transfers or pre-paid debit cards which are the same as cash and once sent, the money is in a stranger’s pockets and you have nowhere to go. Use a reputable real estate agent if needed and be sure to meet the landlord in person before paying deposits and rental fees. Con artists devise new ways to play their hands in greedy games every day. Come up with protective strategies of your own  by taking a step  back before moving forward. Enjoy yourself and have fun – you earned it!

    Writing is an interesting process. Characters, dialogue, and plots all play a part in a good story and readers enjoy putting the pieces together to come up with an engaging ending. Mysteries present their own challenges and we become armchair detectives  trying  to solve  crimes and mete out justice with each turn of the page. Words can put us on a trail and it’s up to us to stay on the path. But what if the words mislead and bring us to a side road of deception?

Mystery Shopping anyone?

Mystery shoppers are hired by companies to evaluate and report on their products and services. For example, a company might ask a Mystery Shopper to purchase an item in a particular store and let them know how they were treated by store personnel. Other activities might include purchasing an item,  testing it at home, and then following up with a written report on the results. Sounds like  fun  until scammers  make your funds disappear and your sleuthing skills are put to the test protecting your own assets. Here are some investigative tools to use when considering a position as a Mystery Shopper.

Chapter One: DO NOT

Do not pay any fees to become a Mystery Shopper and do not give out any banking information. There are no special certifications necessary to apply for legitimate jobs and no paid guarantees for success.  There is no need to purchase a directory of Mystery Shopping businesses because you can find them yourself.

Chapter Two: DO

Take your time and do some research. Look for reviews and posts about companies you are considering. Visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website at www.mysteryshop.org for information and suggestions on becoming a Mystery Shopper or call 1-502-574-9033 with any questions.

 APPENDIX

If you believe you’ve been a victim of a scam or if you’ve seen a suspicious offer, contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov or call them at 1-877-382-4357. Your State Attorney General’s Office and Consumer Protection Bureaus can provide assistance as well. Don’t let strangers hijack your money. It’s your story – write your own ending!

Digital currency is in the media and scammers have already figured out a way to steal something that many of us don’t even understand yet. Here are some simple terms and explanations to add to our growing digital dictionaries.

Bitcoin (capital B) is the practice of using bitcoins, (the actual units of currency) as a way to transact business within an anonymous community of bitcoin users. After downloading and installing specialized software, members are assigned public  and private encryption keys which are  stored in a digital “wallet” and  used for buying and selling many things.

Digital wallets need to be protected and backed up in a reliable way.  The value of bitcoins fluctuate on a regular basis and hackers can steal  wallets and/or infect  computers with  viruses once they gain access to accounts. There is no recourse once your “savings” have been stolen and virus removal is a chore.

Bitcoin transactions are becoming more popular in many venues and some businesses are encouraging their use. Like any  product or service, consumers need to understand the pros and cons (pardon the pun) of using a new system for business dealings. Do some homework and research Bitcoin carefully. Use reputable sites and ask other users about their experiences. A bit of time is worth banking on when it comes to saving your accounts, whether you can touch them or not.

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Once again the holidays are upon us and savvy shoppers have kept track of all the wonderful savings being offered on Cyber Mondays, Black Friday, and  numerous early-bird deals perched on other sales days of the week. Consumers may not realize that the adage of “Buyer Beware” still applies even after an item is purchased, especially when it comes to techno-gadgets.  Once tablets, notebooks, and laptops leave the safe confines of gift wrapped boxes users may need  to protect themselves from holiday hackers claiming to be tech support personnel from well-known companies. Here’s some tips on how to scan for and delete  fake IT  offers.

The US Census Bureau estimates that in 2011, 75.6% of households reported owning computers in their homes and 71.7% said they had access to the Internet.  Scammers call unsuspecting folks claiming to be customer service reps from reputable companies like Microsoft and inform them that their computer systems have been compromised and then offer to “fix” the problem.  After several minutes of techno-babble and urgent warnings, concerned computer users are either convinced that they need to purchase special software or relinquish control of the operating system to the stranger on the phone. Either way account information and personal data are all compromised and the real damage begins.

If you receive a tech support call and haven’t initiated the contact, hang up. Fake caller ID numbers are easy to get and are used frequently by computer cons. Pop-up ads with special deals for security issues should raise red flags and under no circumstances should a stranger be allowed to  access your computer or credit card information. If you believe you have paid for phony services contact your credit card company and advise them of the situation so they can proceed with an investigation. Change your passwords and check  banking and/or credit card statements for any unauthorized charges and report problems to the FTC by calling 1-877-382-4357 or visit www.ftc.gov. Free anti-scamware is at your fingertips and no installation is required.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!