[NFB-Krafters-Korner] OT:tech-vi Announce List] Security Saturday: Bank Scams and How to Avoid Them

Sat Jan 15 19:06:20 UTC 2022

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From: tech-vi at groups.io <tech-vi at groups.io> On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 11:05 AM
To: tech-vi at groups.io
Subject: [tech-vi Announce List] Security Saturday: Bank Scams and How to
Avoid Them

WhatIsMyIPAddress - Monday, December 20, 2021 at 10:15 AM

Bank Scams and How to Avoid Them

Unable to fetch full text content for this article, please use the link to
the web view to read the entire article.

Some of the most common scams involve going after your money. Fraudsters
have invented a myriad of ways to either get money from you or get you to
hand over your bank or credit card information. Bank and financial scams
target everyone, from university students to senior citizens. 

Know which bank scams you may come across and how to avoid falling victim
to them.

Banking scams that target students

Most college students don't have a lot of extra cash laying around, so you
wouldn't think they'd be targets for banking scams. However, fraudulent
schemes aimed at students are common because students often have fresh
credit histories. Here's some to keep an eye out for:

*	Student aid scam: You may get a message saying your student loan or
financial aid is "at-risk" asking you to click some link to validate your
information. The email may not address you by name or contain grammatical
errors. If you suspect there's a problem with your student loan, contact
your loan lender directly - never click on suspicious links in emails.
Learn more about student loan scams by listening to our Easy Prey podcast
episode
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.easyp
rey.com%2Fstudent-loan-scams-with-robert-farrington%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C09
3c230cfc1647c27c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7
C637762355493934640%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l
uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=JsKgYzFcoX2iTEe2KcEbO0pTKz
1rD4fR2exIga1Sxx8%3D&reserved=0>  on the subject.
*	Scholarship scam: If you get an email or call saying you've been
awarded a scholarship you don't remember applying for, it could be a scam
to get your bank account info. Bogus scholarship sites are also set up to
collect email addresses for future scams. Be very careful when applying for
scholarships that aren't offered by your college or the US Department of
Education.
*	Apartment rental scams: College students are often looking for
places to live, and scammers take advantage of this. Never rent an
apartment without seeing it in person, both inside and outside. Also, don't
make a deposit or pay rent over the phone. Try to work with reputable
rental agencies if possible.

Banking scams that target parents and working adults

Scam artists want to steal your money no matter how old you are or what
stage of life you're in. For  adults who are non-students or people with
kids, common scams include:

*	Charity scams: Charity fraud is common, as scammers try to take
advantage of people's goodwill. According to AARP
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aarp.
org%2Fmoney%2Fscams-fraud%2Finfo-2019%2Fcharity.html&data=04%7C01%7C%7C093c
230cfc1647c27c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C6
37762355494090878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luM
zIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=ktQCt4UQIemdAaPhAeBRKAuYLiYE
wv%2BOeiJ1CHUvFJs%3D&reserved=0> , disaster relief and veterans' funds are
some of the most popular scams. Some warning signs of a fake charity scheme
are pressure to donate right away, receiving a thank you for a donation you
didn't give, or a request for a donation by cash, gift card, or wire
transfer. Use sites like Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to vet
non-profit organizations. Listen to our Easy Prey podcast episode
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.easyp
rey.com%2Fcharity-scams-with-michael-thatcher-and-zachary-weinsteiger%2F&da
ta=04%7C01%7C%7C093c230cfc1647c27c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaa
aaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637762355494090878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wL
jAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=a%2FJei5
iYnsau8xq0OjhbsgfjjUa5h94160uszT2bgFM%3D&reserved=0>  with the founders of
Charity Navigator to learn more about charity scams.
*	Phishing scams: Phishing is widely used by scammers to get personal
info like passwords, Social Security numbers, and bank account numbers.
It's a successful scamming method, and thousands of Americans lose money as
a result of phishing scams every year. Scammers send you an email, text
message, or even a social media message that looks like it's from a
legitimate organization. It usually requires you to click a link and fill
out a username and password. If you get a message from what appears to be
your bank, never click any links. Contact your bank directly if you think
there's an issue.
*	Employment scams: Fraudsters often promise work in exchange for a
fee, paid upfront. They'll also ask for your bank info so they can send you
payments. If a job asks you to pay a fee before starting or promises a lot
of money for little work, it's likely a scam. Always practice caution and
vet companies when you're applying for jobs.

<https://whatismyipaddress.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-alex-green-5699823
-1024x683.jpg> 

Banking scams that target seniors

Elder fraud is a major problem, and the FBI estimates that, as a group,
senior citizens lose more than $3 billion a year
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fbi.g
ov%2Fscams-and-safety%2Fcommon-scams-and-crimes%2Felder-fraud&data=04%7C01%
7C%7C093c230cfc1647c27c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C
1%7C0%7C637762355494090878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQ
IjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=2NSfqDASBHzGzwYLTxo
Xh2xvdKAk5wT3zWGjNgCNYWA%3D&reserved=0>  to scammers. Some common schemes
that target the elderly include:

*	Tech support scams: A tech support scam takes advantage of seniors
who don't have much knowledge of computers or cybersecurity. You'll get a
pop-up message saying you have to call a number to fix a tech problem. Once
you call, the scammer asks either for remote access to your computer or a
fee to "repair" your computer.
*	Grandparent scam: Scammers may call you randomly and say something
like, "Hi Grandma, it's me" or "Do you know who this is?" hoping that
they'll sound like one of your grandkids. Once they've convinced you that
they're a grandchild of yours, they'll ask you to send money or solve some
financial problem without telling anyone.
*	Medicare scam: Because everyone over age 65 in the U.S. qualifies
for Medicare, fraudsters take advantage by posing as Medicare
representatives. They'll try to scam you out of your personal information
or set up fake clinics to bill Medicare and pocket your money.

Listen to our Easy Prey podcast episode
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.easyp
rey.com%2Fcyber-security-for-seniors-with-scott-schober%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%
7C093c230cfc1647c27c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7
C0%7C637762355494090878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjo
iV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=IsxqBVaAIKAzms2sNeNNoA
XXJ5EKqVckOVSYakwoYho%3D&reserved=0>  about cybersecurity best practices
for seniors and learn more about common scams targeting the elderly.

Tips to spot and avoid bank scams

Although scams may target different demographics, there are some general
rules for avoiding losing your money to a bank scam:

*	Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
*	Never give away financial information to a person or business you
don't know, over email, text, or any other medium.
*	Don't click on links in emails from unrecognized senders.
*	Use better passwords
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhatismyi
paddress.com%2Fcreate-stronger-passwords&data=04%7C01%7C%7C093c230cfc1647c2
7c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C6377623554940
90878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6I
k1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=rB5QTX%2BXn4kFYYyvX3Y2E7zX5WOuCZQPC9uJLQ
wdDqs%3D&reserved=0> .
*	Never give out your SSN.
*	Install antivirus software, a firewall, and spyware protection.
*	Only do online shopping with companies you know.
*	Never download software from ads or pop-up windows.

Avoiding bank scams

Bank and financial scams are out there, and they're not going away any time
soon. Use caution, be skeptical, and trust your gut - if something looks
suspicious at all, don't respond to it.

The post Bank Scams and How to Avoid Them
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhatismyi
paddress.com%2Fbank-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them&data=04%7C01%7C%7C093c230cf
c1647c27c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637762
355494090878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLC
JBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=8dP0ysVbpVQ7TgBBBEKFoqroA1KAzpkvM
wcfvh5GEU0%3D&reserved=0>  appeared first on WhatIsMyIPAddress
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhatismyi
paddress.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C093c230cfc1647c27c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e
7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637762355494090878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZ
sb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3
000&sdata=3guXkWorDLxQlar%2BzgMbcNW6VSZxPxCJSGTcEoPmMJI%3D&reserved=0> .

https://whatismyipaddress.com/bank-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhatismyi
paddress.com%2Fbank-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them&data=04%7C01%7C%7C093c230cf
c1647c27c0f08d9c97bb981%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637762
355494090878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLC
JBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=8dP0ysVbpVQ7TgBBBEKFoqroA1KAzpkvM
wcfvh5GEU0%3D&reserved=0> 

     David Goldfield 

Assistive Technology Specialist

Feel free to visit my Web site

WWW.DavidGoldfield.info <http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info> 

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