With last Friday’s promised preview of updated scammers/bad guy techniques, the collection of examples for this post was well underway…
When doing a post such as this, in order to get the images for the example, many devices are often used. Literally as an upload of a screen shot text was being readied for this article from my cell … (while in the back of a large auditorium that housed 100’s that were supposed to be listening to the format and rules of the National Tennis Tournament being attended – let’s call it multitasking rather than lack of attention – digressing) … the upload was interrupted by the following call, fortunately the quick screen shot worked …
There was a number that followed the call, but in the unlikely event it WAS NOT a scam/spammer the number was left out for privacy…
Very coincidental timing at best….
Break In-
As mentioned also late in Friday’s post a new cell data service was ordered last week to include free unlimited data – with a little research it was discovered this new service has an free Spam Risk incoming call notification – still coincidental but partial mystery solved- Digressing again….
Social Security Scam
This is a carefully cropped letter (to protect identity from the field) of a very concerning letter that was allegedly sent from the Social Security Administration…
In the body of the letter there was information concerning a pension that was inaccurate, and seven years old…
Trust us that the letter looked VERY real at first… upon further review, here is what we found:
- Request for phone number was on the letter from recipeint
- Request for multiple years of income confirmation and pension information
- No phone number to call for further information * This is what really led us to believe it was fraud
- Return address for information was much different from mailing address
The letter was four pages long and very believable even frightening! Doing a search on the address, there was a Social Security Office near the address, but NOT AT the actual address of the letter – WOW very cleaver!
It sounds obvious after reviewing the facts, but at initial glance one could have easily entered information which would have certainly been followed by a phone call asking for more information-
If you have ANY doubts, send us a copy for review, just as our long time client did- do not take ANY chances – Hat tip JH!
Institutions Text Scams
The following texts have been collected over the last few months sent to my family and seem to be accelerating in frequency… Don’t Bite
Fake from Chase:
Fake from Amex – we do not even have an Amex Card
Fake from Microsoft:
Fake from Hotmail :
Lastly, a deleted example to the 11 year old, who certainly does not have a Capital One Account that would be at issue – although he questioned if he did- and wanted balances… not kidding..
Upon discussion if he clicked the link in the text, a straight answer was never received- hopefully there will not be a follow up post to this one, on what exactly happens to your phone if you click on the link –
Needless to say, there is are new form of spams, scammers, and phishing going on out there.. these are all text examples just from our family over the last few months!
DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINK THAT YOU ARE NOT 100% CERTAIN IS LEGIT!
Not trying to be a downer on a Monday, just a protector of our data, and keeping our technology clean and virus free!
Have a Great “Be Careful Out There” (showing age here – anyone remember the show?) Day!
John A. Kvale CFA, CFP