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Fraud, Part II
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote to you about some fraud cases that have happened to All Angels and how to avoid them. Some parishioners have shared their own stories about fraud in order to help others. One parishioner received a text saying that their credit/debit card has been blocked. Our parishioner (thankfully) drove to the bank parking lot and pressed the number on the text. The helpful person on the other end asked for name and social security number. Then, the “banker” asked for the code on the back of the card. After hearing that, our parishioner hung up, walked into the bank, holding the card, saying, “I think I have been defrauded.” The manager quickly ushered her into an office, pulled up the account, blocked it and thankfully reported that no activity had occurred on it. The advice from the manager is this: only use the phone number printed on the back of the card. Do not call a number from a text or email. Secondly, the bank will never call you to verify information. They receive calls; they do not initiate them. Third – same as the first – only use the number printed on the back of your card.
I have had a couple of parishioners tell me that they received a message on their computer from Microsoft. The message said they need to run some maintenance and to click the link provided. Once the link is clicked, the representative on the other end will take control of your mouse/curser and then have access to your banking information and your contact list. One person, an admiral who lives in California, fell for this scam. He was accustomed to the IT department in the Navy or DOD and was assigned a heavily secured computer. But, in retirement, he had his own PC. When the pop-up happened on his home computer, he clicked on it and ended up paying for “IT services” to clean his computer. It was a scam of course.
According the Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, HP and all the rest, they never, ever, reach out to you to run a routine scan. They will do updates; and seem to do them more frequently; but they will not diagnose a problem with your device in advance and call you about it. If you need to call them, go to the source: find a number on your receipt or log into your account and follow the instructions to call.
Earlier this year, I found a box of copier toner leaning against the front door of the office. It was exactly the same toner we use and our copier company sends us toner – for free (included in the monthly lease) – when we need it. A week later, we received an invoice for it. After going to the source – the copier – and calling the number phone number listed, our leasing agent told us it was a scam. We mailed the toner back to the scam company and told them to never contact us again.
In the media lately, we have been hearing about what people claim is Christianity. In fact, the discussion group topic for next week is a story about particular groups who are using the image of the rosary with assault weapons. When I hear and read those troubling things, I am reminded to go back to the source. Just like the bank manger that said to go to the source and only call the number printed on the back of our bank cards, we too spiritually speaking should go the source and check our Bible when it comes to what others say is in it. We should check with our own Church history and perhaps talk to our priest to see if what we are being bombarded with is true spirituality or a scam. The Bible will not call us and tell us something is wrong. It is our duty and responsibility to turn to Scripture, our source, and to make sure we are staying connected to the right path or if we are being scammed.
- Rev. Dave
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