Showing #scams articles:

News Articles

Fake Password Resets Scam

Dec 4, 2024 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scams #fraud #security #emails #support #tips

One common tactic used by scammers is sending fake password reset messages. While this type of attack isn't new, it remains widespread because it is so effective.   In these attacks, scammers may call you or send phishing emails or texts claiming that you need to reset your password or...

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Protect Your Donations: Tips for Avoiding Holiday Charity Scams

Nov 26, 2024 | posted by Lily Chavez
#community #events #scams #holidays #charities #ftc-article

With so many worthy causes to support this holiday season, ensuring your donations are going to the right place is important. Unfortunately, scammers are often ready to take advantage of your generosity. These fraudsters can be very convincing, sometimes using names similar to trusted charities...

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Stay Safe from Holiday Scams

Nov 12, 2024 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scams #fraud #holidays #onlineshopping #security

Stay Safe from Holiday Scams The holiday season brings more online shopping, making it a prime time for scammers. Here's how to protect yourself: Watch Out for Fake Websites and Apps Scammers often create fake websites and apps that look like trusted retailers. These sites steal your payment...

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Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

Nov 6, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #fraud #holidays #online shopping #education

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner, with many deals already active. We wanted to share some safety tips for holiday shopping this season. Consider using a credit card when making purchases if you can, especially with online shopping. Credit cards offer more security...

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Only Scammers Ask You to Pay for Services with a Gift Card

Oct 21, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #scams #fraud

Has anyone asked you to pay a bill or a fine with a gift card? If this seems unusual, it's because it's a scam. No real business or government agency will ever tell you that you need to pay with a gift card. Generally, these sorts of scams begin with a phone call, text message, email, or social...

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Student Loan Forgiveness Scam

Sep 25, 2024 | posted by Lily Chavez
#education #scams #ftc-article #fraud

As back-to-school season begins, those with federal loans may have received a legitimate email from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about loan forgiveness. However, it's important to be cautious, as not all such emails are genuine.   Only three official email addresses are...

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FTC Scam Awareness: Five Ways to Keep Scammers and Hackers Away

By By Alvaro Puig, Consumer Education Specialist

Sep 25, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #scams #ftc-article #fraud

Courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Education Blog  We’re living in the data age. The things we do on our phones and computers, on our internet-enabled smart devices, and on websites leave a trail of our activities and our personal information. That personal information has...

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Security Tip: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication for Account Logins

Sep 19, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #scams

Keeping your personal information safe in today's connected world has never been more important. Generally, the most important security step you can take is to create strong passwords. But with the dozens or hundreds of online accounts that we all utilize, from banking to streaming services to...

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FTC Scam Awareness: Why It's Not Rude to Ignore "Hi, How Are You?" Text Messages from Strangers

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Gema de las Heras, FTC Consumer Education Specialist

Jun 6, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #education #ftc-article

A text message from an unknown number that simply says: hi, how are you? seems harmless. Your first instinct might be to respond to see if it’s someone you know. Or maybe tell them they made a mistake. But it’s best to ignore these type of text messages. Scammers are using this tactic as a...

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Tech Term of the Month - May 2024: .exe

May 16, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #education #technology

Have you ever received an email with file type .exe attached to it and wondered what is was? Or maybe you've downloaded an app or program to your computer that ran a .exe file to initiate the download and setup? Like a .jpg, .png, .mp4, .mp3, or .doc, .exe is a naming extension that denotes a...

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Scam Email Claims to be from 'BCT E-Mail Support'

May 7, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #education

We have received multiple calls and emails from members inquiring about a suspicious email message they received claiming to be from 'BCT E-Mail Support.' THIS IS A SCAM. Do not open the attachment or click on any links. It is also good practice to mark the message as Spam or Phishing Attempt in...

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BCT "Final Notice" Email Scam Alert

Apr 5, 2024 | posted by Erica Meyer
#scams #security

Many BCT members have reported receiving an email like the one below recently. This is a scam and NOT from BCT. DO NOT CLICK on the provided link. Delete the email. These are bad actors trying to phish your personal information. How can you tell? Look at the highlights below: 1. Return email...

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Watch Out for this Text Message Scam Targeting BCT Members

Mar 26, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security

Our Member Services Team has been notified of a new text scam going around pretending to be from BCT. In this scam, the message threatens that the recipient’s services will be turned off if they do not click a link to update their expired payment information. This is a scam. BCT does not send...

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The IRS Doesn't Send Tax Refunds by Email or Text

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Larissa Bungo, Senior Attorney

Feb 20, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #ftc-article

Got an email or text message about a tax refund? It’s a scam. IRS impersonators are at it again. This time, the scammers are sending messages about your “tax refund” or “tax refund e-statement.” It might look legit, but it’s an email or text fake, trying to trick you into clicking on links so...

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How Are Robocallers Getting Your Phone Number?

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Andrew Rayo, Consumer Education Specialist

Jan 18, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #ftc-article

Does it ever feel like you’re getting more robocalls than calls from actual humans? Illegal robocalls aren’t just annoying — they’re also often scams. But you might be wondering — how did they get my number in the first place? Sometimes robocalls are random. But sometimes, a company tries to...

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Stay Up To Date On The Latest Scams!

Jan 2, 2024 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #security #tips

Grandparents Scam You receive a call or text message from someone impersonating a grandchild or loved one asking for money to help with an emergency and providing instructions on where to send the money. These...

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Tech Term of the Month - December 2023: Vishing

Dec 14, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#security #education #technology #scams

Vishing , short for 'voice phishing' is the fradulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages pretending to be from legitimate companies or organizations intended to get people to reveal personal information. Vishing is similar to phishing, which is when scammers attempt to get...

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Scammers Hide Harmful Links in QR Codes to Steal Your Information

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Alvaro Puig Consumer Education Specialist

Dec 6, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #security #scams

QR codes seem to be everywhere. You may have scanned one to see the menu at a restaurant or pay for public parking. And you may have used one on your phone to get into a concert or sporting event, or to board a flight. There are countless other ways to use them, which explains their popularity....

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Think twice before taking that social media quiz

Oct 16, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#security #scams #tips #education

Your childhood pet’s name, your mother’s maiden name, your first car. Why would a random social media quiz about which Harry Potter character you’d most relate to need to know these things? Well, there’s a chance it’s a scam.  These types of topics are all common account security questions...

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Watch out for package delivery confirmation scams this holiday season

Sep 27, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#security #scams #tips

As the holidays approach and more folks order items for delivery, scams like the one in the image above tend to increase. The sender pretends to be a company reaching out to confirm or schedule the delivery of a package.  These kinds of messages almost always have a button or link that they...

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Scammers impersonate well-known companies, recruit for fake jobs on LinkedIn and other job platforms

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Larissa Bungo, Senior Attorney, Federal Trade Commission

Aug 16, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #security #scams

Scammers are lurking on LinkedIn and other job sites, posing as “recruiters” for well-known companies. But instead of looking to hire you, they’re really looking to take your money and personal information. It starts with a direct message on a job search site like Indeed or LinkedIn. The...

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Watch out for automatic account renewal scams

Jul 20, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #security #scams

Have you received an email or text message that looks like the image above? In this scam email that was sent to a BCT team member, the sender is posing as Norton, a company that offers anti-virus software. An invoice has been included in the email that details a subscription to "Norton 360...

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Scammers Are Impersonating Best Buy’s Geek Squad: Here’s What You Need to Know

By Office of the Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum

Jun 19, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #security #scams

Don't fall for these phony Geek Squad invoices and customer service numbers. Consumers and small business owners are being targeted by a scam that involves fraudulent invoices and customer service numbers posing as Best Buy’s Geek Squad. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is urging...

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Watch Out for Gift Card Scams

May 18, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #security #scams

Scammers continue to evolve their methods in the hopes of getting people to fall for their schemes, and sometimes they can be hard to spot. But one telltale sign of a scam is when someone asks you to pay for a service or help with a gift card. They might say to put money on a certain kind of...

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Watch Out for "Account Suspended" Scams

Feb 15, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #tips #security #scams

A new favorite tactic of scammers is to try and convince you that one of your accounts has been suspended and that you need to take action to regain access or lift the suspension. The image above is from an email recently received by a BCT staff member that says, in rather poor grammar, their...

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'Tis the season to spot and avoid gift card scams

By By Kira Krown, Federal Trade Commission Consumer Education Specialist

Dec 12, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #tips #ftc-article #security #education

Article courtesy of the  Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice blog Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one for you: Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Then help others spot and avoid them, too. Scammers want you to pay with gift...

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Amazon "Prime Account Report" Email Scam Alert

Oct 18, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams
#news #security #scams #email

❗ Amazon scam alert ❗ The holidays are approaching, and folks are making more purchases online. Scammers take this opportunity to do what they do: try to trick you into giving up your money or personal information. Be on the lookout for scam emails from seemingly-reputable...

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Don’t click on that random text. It’s a scam

By Gema de las Heras, Federal Trade Commission

Aug 16, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #news #tips #ftc-article #security

Sorry to burst your bubble. That unexpected text from the Postal Service (USPS), Costco, or The Home Depot telling you about an unclaimed package or a survey you can complete to claim a freebie is NOT from them. It’s a scam. The FTC has seen a spike in reports from people getting text messages...

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Watch out for emails from scammers posing as computer software company, McAfee. They’re fakes!

By Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum

Jul 26, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #technology #news

Have you received an email with the subject line "Thank you for your purchase!" that looks like it came from McAfee, a computer security software company? The email claims your account has been “re-approved” and your credit or debit card was charged hundreds of dollars. At the very end of the...

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SCAM ALERT: Watch out for robocalls asking for personal info

Jun 1, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #news #robocalls

The BCT Tech Support Team has received several calls from members reporting that they had been called by robocall scammers posing as Amazon. Be on the lookout for calls like these - their goal is to get you to give up your personal or banking information. It's important to remember to never...

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Not enough baby formula means plenty of scammers

FTC Consumer Information

By Colleen Tressler

May 19, 2022 | posted by Jason Nugent
#ftc-article #scams

Scammers exploiting the high demand for baby formula have sunk to new lows. They’re popping up online and tricking desperate parents and caregivers into paying steep prices for formula that never arrives. Scammers may set up fake websites or profiles on social media platforms with...

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Shutting down tech support scams

FTC Consumer Information

By Andrew Rayo

May 16, 2022 | posted by Jason Nugent
#ftc-article #scams

With technology, it’s easier than ever to connect with others and people are just a click or call away. Nobody knows that better than scammers — who might try to contact you about a supposed virus or malware they’ve “found” on your device. So, during this Older Americans Month, remember —...

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The Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it

By Alvaro Puig

Dec 29, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent
#ftc-article #scams

It’s Cyber Security Awareness month, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds. If there’s one constant among scammers, it’s that they’re always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. Have you heard about it? Here’s how it works....

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’Tis the season for student loan scam calls

By Emily Wu

Dec 15, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #ftc-article

If you have a federal student loan, you probably already know that the Coronavirus emergency relief program that has paused your payments is ending. Repayments will begin again after January 31, 2022. Scammers know it, too, and are looking for ways to take advantage: they’re calling, texting,...

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Child Tax Credit scammers are still reaching out

By Emily Wu

Dec 8, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #ftc-article

Many people have gotten their advance Child Tax Credit payments this year, but scammers are taking advantage of this new program to try to trick you out of money or information. They’re pretending to be the IRS, contacting people by phone, text, email, and social media — and sending people to...

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The Google Voice scam

How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it

By Alvaro Puig

Nov 2, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #ftc-article

It’s Cyber Security Awareness month, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds. If there’s one constant among scammers, it’s that they’re always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. Have you heard about it? Here’s how it works....

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Spot the pandemic scam: emergency broadband program impersonators

By Carly Johnson

Oct 28, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams

Have you seen ads on social media that offer to “help” you sign up for a government program that will give you a “free” device and internet service in exchange for money or personal information? While there is a real government program to help people connect during the pandemic, there’s no...

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Amazon impersonators: what you need to know

By Maria Mayo

Oct 28, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams

Has Amazon contacted you to confirm a recent purchase you didn’t make or to tell you that your account has been hacked? According to the FTC’s new  Data Spotlight , since July 2020, about one in three people who have reported a business  impersonator scam  say the scammer...

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Keeping older adults safe from scams

By Bridget Small

Oct 28, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams

As last week's annual report to Congress makes clear, the safety of older consumers in the marketplace is a priority for the FTC.  Protecting Older Consumers 2020 – 2021: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission  summarizes the agency’s ongoing law enforcement efforts, new research...

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Watch out for charity scams

By Rosario Méndez

Oct 28, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams

Every year, charity regulators from around the word get together to raise awareness about charity fraud. The FTC joins this effort again this year because it’s so important to know how to spot a charity scam. The more you know, the less likely you’ll donate to a bogus charity. Better yet, you’ll...

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'Suspicious Activity' Surge, As Scammers Impersonate Amazon

Phone scammers claim to be from Amazon

By Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press

Jun 13, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams

Amazon scam calls have surged significantly over the past few months. Consumers are now regularly receiving anywhere between  100 million and 150 million  robocalls per month from fraudsters claiming to be with Amazon, according to YouMail, which has a robocall blocking app. ...

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Hang up on auto warranty robocalls

By Emily Wu

May 20, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #ftc-article #tip

Have you gotten a recorded phone message from “Susie” with the “Vehicle Service Department” calling about your vehicle warranty? That’s, like, so retro. But fanny packs, scrunchies, and tie dye are back — and so are vehicle warranty robocalls. It starts when you pick up a call and hear a...

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Stay Safe from Scammers. Visit the new BCT Scam Prevention Page

May 20, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #tip #company information

Have you ever received a text message or an email that looks or feels a little suspicious? Maybe it came from an odd email or number you don’t know, or there are several misspelled words throughout. And why does a prince halfway across the globe want to give you his $100 million inheritance...

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Unwanted calls: Just block ’em and report ’em

FTC Consumer Information

May 13, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #ftc-article

Unwanted calls are annoying. They can feel like a constant interruption — and many are from scammers. Unfortunately, technology makes it easy for scammers to make millions of calls a day. So this week, as part of Older Americans Month, we’re talking about how to block unwanted calls — for...

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When it’s Not Really the Government Calling

Apr 20, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #ftc-article

Lots of people are having trouble sleeping, thanks to the pandemic and all the parts of our lives it’s affecting. And it doesn’t help when you get a call saying you owe the government money. Oh, and, they add, you’ll go to jail if you don’t pay up immediately. That’s a scam, and nothing to lose...

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Fake Price Offers Don't Pay

Apr 19, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #ftc-article

The pandemic has caused financial distress because of lost jobs, income, and homes, and emotional distress because of social isolation. This week, during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), we want your help to reach people who might be a bit cut off from their social network. The FTC...

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Fake Calls from Apple and Amazon

Dec 4, 2020 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #news

We are receiving reports from members about fake calls from Apple and Amazon trying to scam them. The FTC has an article out describing these scams and providing information on what you should do. For the most part, just hang up and ignore, but view the article from the FTC here for more...

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"Email Account" Scam Alert

Dec 4, 2020 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams #email

We are getting reports of members that are receiving email notifications from what looks like "BCT Support" that are fraudulent. The messages in general will say your "Email Account is near Capacity" or your "Inbox is full" and ask for your username, password or other personal information. BCT...

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SCAM ALERT

By Conner Williams

Dec 4, 2019 | posted by Jason Nugent
#scams

While it may be the season of giving, some gifts can sound too good to be true. A BCT member alerted us of a text message scam in which the scammer(s) pose as Beaver Creek Telephone Company and ask users to complete a survey to win an iPhone 11. It claims to have randomly selected a user by...

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