Phishing & Smishing
A message claiming you've won a sweepstakes you never entered
What is a common sign of a text message scam?
Someone who calls and says they are from the IRS and demands you pay them with a gift card.
What is an imposter scam?
This type of theft occurs when someone uses your Social Security number to open a credit card account.
What is identity theft?
The name of the pop-up that appears on your screen claiming your computer has a virus and tells you to call a number for help.
What is tech support scam pop-up?
A scam where a fraudster sells a product that is either fake or never ships it to you.
What is an online shopping scam?
Hovering your mouse over a link to see the real URL before you click
What is a good way to check if a link in an email is safe?
A person who befriends you on a dating site and then asks you for money for a family emergency.
What is a romance scammer?
A tactic used by fraudsters to trick people into revealing personal information by setting up fake Wi-Fi hotspots in public places.
What is a Wi-Fi scam?
They type of payment a legitimate tech company would never ask you for to fix your computer.
What is a gift card, a wire transfer, or cryptocurrency?
A common red flag for a fraudulent online store.
What is having only one payment option like a wire transfer, having no contact information, or having a website with bad grammar?
Generic greetings like "Dear Valued Customer" instead of your name.
What is a red flag in a phishing email that suggests it's not from a legitimate company?
This is what a person should do immediately when an unknown person calls and demands personal information or money.
What is hang up?
Three main credit bureaus where you can freeze your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.
What are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion?
The three things a fruadster might ask you to do during a fake tech support call.
What are giving them remote access to your computer, giving them your credit card information, or buying gift cards?
The investment promise that is a major red flag for any type of investment scam
What is a guaranteed high return with little or no risk?
A scam where a fraudster spoofs a bank's phone number to make it look like they are calling from the bank.
What is caller ID spoofing?
An email from a "Company CEO" asking an employee to make an urgent wire transfer to a new account.
What is a business email compromise scam? (BEC)
This is a physical form of identity theft where a fraudster steals amil from your mailbox to get bank statements or other personal information.
What is mail theft?
A key difference between a real tech support professional and a scammer.
What is a real tech professional will not initiate contact with you, and they will not ask for remote access to your computer unless you have initiated the request?
A type of scam where early investors are paid with money from new investors, rather than from actual profits.
What is a Ponzi scheme?
This is a scam that uses text messages to trick you into giving up personal information.
What is smishing?
This is what a grandparent should do if they get a call from someone claiming to be their grandchild in trouble.
What is call the grandchild or their parents on a known phone number to verify?
The single most important document you should protect to prevent someone from stealing your identity.
What is your Social Security card?
This is what a tech support scammer might install on your computer after gaining remote access.
What is malware or spyware?
This is the most effective thing a buyer should do before making a purchase from a new online retailer
What is read online reviews from multiple sources or check a review site like the Better Business Bureau?