Via Oregon - September/October 2021 - 17

has been charged $300 " ), and
assert the only way to stop the damage
is to take instant action. This
tricks users into lowering their guard
at the worst time.
2
Check the obvious warning
signs. It's common knowledge
that phishing attacks are filled with
telltale indicators, but scammers
have been getting better at grammar
and spelling in recent years,
and these glaring mistakes are
becoming less frequent. While even
the slightest typo should clue you in
that a message is phony, look for
additional signals: the use of " Dear
customer " or a similar greeting,
rather than your name; the suggestion
that you use Whatsapp,
WeChat, or another alternative
messaging system to contact them;
and anyone asking for payment or a
donation in bitcoin.
3
Pay close attention to email
addresses. Hackers can spoof a
sender's email address to appear
legitimate, but it's often easier to
create one that's close enough. It's
an easy way to check for legitimacy:
A message from amazon1.com is
not from Amazon. App1e (with a
numeral one instead of the letter l)
is not the same as Apple. Similarly,
check the recipient (or " to " ) field to
ensure that your direct email
address is listed there. Legitimate
senders will not blind-copy, or BCC,
you on a message.
4
Hover over hyperlinks (but don't
click them). The goal of most
phishing emails and texts is to get you
to click on a link. Doing so typically
takes you to a website where the major
damage is done. The link in an email
can be easily disguised, but if you simply
hover your cursor over the link
(without clicking it) you can usually
see where it really goes. A legitimate
link will clearly belong to the company
that sent the message; the destination
for scam links will be much more obvious
when you hover over them.
Anything that is created using a URL
shortener such as TinyURL or Bitly
should immediately be suspect.
Turn the tables and do your own
research. An increasing number
of online resources let you do recon
5
on the sender of a message or text.
Simply search an unknown phone
number, and you'll often discover
whether consumer complaints have
been reported against it, or, at the
very least, whether it's really the
company it claims to be. Searching
for email addresses rarely reveals
anything, but if you're unsure about
whether an embedded URL is
legitimate, try copying it (without
clicking it) and pasting it into the form
on Google's Safe Browsing page. If
the site is dangerous, you'll find out
without having to open the link.
6
Be wary of calls and texts from
nearby regions. Phone calls
and text messages are commonly
spoofed by changing the area code
and even the prefix so they appear
to be from someone local. Be aware
that this is just another tactic to get
you to lower your guard. " Text messages
and phone calls can be made
to look like they are coming from
whatever number the scammer
wants you to believe, " says Steve
Weisman, writer of the blog
Scamicide. -christopher null
Feel confident.
Safeguard your identity with Protect
MyID, a complimentary service
included with your AAA membership.
Find out more at AAA.com/theft.
AAA | VIA 17
BOTTOM: FIZKES / SHUTTERSTOCK
http://www.amazon1.com http://www.AAA.com/theft
Via Oregon - September/October 2021

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