Sick! Cyberjerks use virus to target phishing attacks
Be careful of the source of information you use to educate yourself about the coronavirus.
It shouldn’t surprise us that cybercriminals are capitalizing on the public’s desire to learn more about the outbreak. There are reports of phishing scams attempting to steal personal information or to infect our devices with malware and ads that peddle false information or scam products.
In one phishing email, scammers used the logo of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Health Alert Network and claimed to provide a list of local active infections. They then instructed the recipients to click on a link to access the list, then enter their email login credentials, which were later stolen.
If you’re looking for information on COVID-19, visit reputable websites like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization. Watch out for phishing emails that appear to come from a trusted source by looking closely at the sender’s detailed email address, especially after the “@” symbol.
Also be wary of any emails or phone calls offering unexpected or unsolicited information. Don’t click on links and attachments that may include malware.
And finally, Facebook is attempting to crack down on misinformation related to the coronavirus but some ads may still be getting past the review process. Be careful about spreading conspiracy theories on social media.
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CLEARING HOUSE GONE WILD: After recently publishing a segment in this column about the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes, I received several more calls from local readers informing me they’ve received a check from PCH with their winnings. The amount varies, usually between $4,300 and $4,700. The recipient is informed they have 10 days to call the number back for further instructions.
Readers who called the number were instructed to deposit the check but not withdraw the money right away. The crook then wanted the targets to send a wire for fees while they’re at the bank.
Some wonder if PCH is a legitimate company. PCH is based in New York with its core business being direct marketing for all types of merchandise. However, over the years and due to PCH’s popularity, scammers have used PCH’s name so often that it has become almost a good bet that if you are getting contacted by them, it’s a scam.
Here are three other ways to tell if you’re getting fake PCH scam notices:
1. If you have to pay to collect a prize, it is surely a scam.
2. PCH will never call you to say you have won. Therefore, any call you receive informing you that you have won a prize is a scam.
3. If you receive a partial prize it’s a scam. This is where you’re sent a partial award and told to cash it and send a portion back to claim the full prize. Scam!
If all that doesn’t convince you, here’s a statistic to consider: If you actually enter the PCH sweepstakes, you have a 1 in 2.4 billion chance of winning the super prize, yet you have a 1 in 3,000 chance of being struck by lightning in your lifetime. Putting this into perspective, that means you are 800,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning in your lifetime than you are to win the PCH sweepstakes. Let that one sink in for a minute.
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AUTO BILL PAY: Automatic bill pay can be appealing for recurring payments because it is convenient, you don’t have to remember to pay every bill on the due date, you don’t have to visit multiple websites and you don’t miss payments.
However, with scams these days being so prevalent, it’s understandable that a number of readers have expressed concern over automatic bill paying and their reluctance to allow anyone to access their bank account directly. Some wonder how they can take advantage of automatic bill pay without scammers taking advantage of them.
You have a couple of options with automatic/recurring payments: First, online bill pay can be set up through your bank. You give your bank the information for the account you have with the payee and the bank will automatically pay the vendor the amount due each month from either your checking or savings account. This is a good option because you don’t need to give your routing number and account number to anyone since your bank initiates the transaction. Remember to set up an alert before the date the payment will be deducted from your account so you can make sure you have the funds available to avoid overdraft charges.
Second, if the vendor accepts credit, you can pay with a credit card. Credit cards offer far better protections for you as a consumer but it’s also important that you verify charges on your statements each month for potential errors or false charges. If you see a suspicious charge on your credit card, you can dispute it immediately. The process of getting your money back is typically quicker than if an error is made from your bank account.
You should avoid setting up automatic payments where you have to send your routing number and account number directly to the payee, which allows them to deduct money from your checking or savings account each month. It is better to have your bank initiate the payment or to pay bills with a credit card.
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Remember: I’m on your side.
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If you have encountered a consumer issue that you have questions about or think our readers should know about, please send me an email at terridickersonadvocate@gmail.com or call me at 208-274-4458. As The CDA Press Consumer Gal, I’m here to help. I’m a full-time copywriter working with businesses on marketing strategy, a columnist and a consumer advocate living in Coeur d’Alene.