Scammers are becoming increasingly clever. Every month we hear from people who have been scammed by letting someone take control of their computer and coerce them into paying for support for non-existent computer or account-related problems - or even offering a refund. With a little bit of knowledge of how these scams work, you won't become a victim yourself.
In the past few months billing and invoice scams have become more common. One example is that you may get an email stating that your account will be charged unless you call the number provided. They use common company names so that the "charge" may seem legitimate - Amazon, Norton, McAfee, Best Buy, etc. Some are intentionally vague - such as "Technical Support" or "Antivirus Protection" - to pique your interest to get you to call the number.
Always assume it's fake until proven otherwise. A careful inspection of the email will reveal clues about the authenticity of the email. Look at ALL of the following in the email:
- Is the email address shown from a reputable company - or a person's email address?
- Is the email personalized with your name - or simply "Dear customer"
- Are there misspellings, grammatical errors, capitalization errors?
Most scams typically start with an email, website pop-up, phone call or text message from a well-known company. You are notified about a large purchase that has been (or will be) charged to your account - or there's a problem with your account or device/computer. You're told to call, click a link or talk to a fraud/account representative to confirm the purchase or account information. No matter how legitimate it sounds - It's a scam!
You could also get an email from the address of someone you know - but their account has been unknowingly compromised. Such scams usually ask you to send money to that person who is in distress, or ask for your help in purchasing gift cards for a relative. No matter how legitimate it sounds - It's a scam! Never conduct business or financial transactions initiated from an unsolicited email.
