While most of us love treats, few of us enjoy being tricked. The way most people will try to trick you can be tricky to identify. They may pretend to be with Microsoft, Apple, the IRS, UPS, FedEx, Norton, McAfee, or a relative.
To help protect you, we want to prepare you for some things to look out for so that you are not tricked this Holiday season or anytime.
Tricks may come at you in several ways. Below, we have compiled a list of a few ways someone may try to trick you. We hope that even this tiny bit of knowledge will protect you now and in the future from those who would take advantage of you otherwise.
Email – These are emails meant to trick you, be aware.
- Messages that look like they are from someone you may know asking for money to be sent via Western Union, Crypto, Bitcoin, or Gift Cards are usually always a trick. Be careful; call this person or someone who knows them and verify they need this help to ensure you are not being tricked.
- Messages that attach an invoice or claim that you were charged for a product or services you do not remember purchasing can often be a trick. Call your bank or Credit Card issuer and verify with them that this is a charge that you were billed.
- Messages that claim they know what you are doing on your computer and that they will leak this information if you do not pay them. These are always a trick and should be deleted and ignored.
- Messages that threaten you or try to scare you into thinking your computer is infected and that you need to call the number on your screen. These are a trick to get you to call so that they can convince you to allow them into your computer remotely so that they can steal your money or information.
- Messages with any attachment can be a way to infect you or hurt your computer. If you do not know the sender, or if it has misspelled words or bad grammar, do not open these attachments.
Phone & Text – Phone & Text messages out to get you.
- Phone calls from someone claiming to be with the IRS or a collections agency are often a method that someone will use to try to trick you. These callers can be very convincing; hang up if you are unsure of their validity.
- Phone calls from individuals claiming to be from Microsoft that tell you your computer has a virus. This method is another trickster trying to gain access to your computer.
- Text Messages that say you have won a contest you do not remember signing up for are another trick.
- Text messages with links from unknown numbers are typically a trick.
BONUS TIP:
The above tricks are tactics professionals use to take advantage of you. Call 1st Techs if you are concerned about any of the items we are trying to help protect you from, and we will help you in any way we can.
Leave IT to Your IT PRO
Contact 1st Techs Today at 650-722-1086 or 925-484-6472 or use our Contact Form.