Pismo Beach, CA – I recently read two articles in two different magazines regarding the rise of scams from social media sites and now on cell phones via text messaging. Scammers have been more successful in obtaining information by using text messages claiming to be from your bank and stating “Your account has been frozen” and then giving a phone number to call to “clear up the problem.” When a person calls the number in the text message, it goes to the scammer who then asks for your account number, PIN, Social Security number. Bam!–you’re a victim of identity theft. Other scams via text message promise something free like a computer, government loans, and even a security app for your phone, which if you click on the link, actually downloads identity-stealing software to your phone.
The best thing to do is not reply to any messages–delete them instead. If you request to be removed from their list they’ll know your number is active and you may get more messages. Don’t click on any links in messages sent to you by people you don’t know. If you get a message that is supposedly from your bank, don’t trust the phone number in the text–look it up and call that number. Don’t store any account information on your phone. Set your phone to lock after a short period of time.
Regarding social media such as Facebook, protect yourself by securing your personal information. If you get an email claiming a picture has been posted of you with a link to click on, the link may take you to a fake landing page where you need to enter your account information. A cyber-scammer now has your password and can access your account information. You’ve probably seen questions on Facebook that prompt you to enter your information. In doing so, you may be subscribing to a monthly service without knowing it. Also be aware, especially on Twitter, with shortened URLs, you never know where it will take you if you click on it since the location is hidden. The best defense is a good program giving you protection from spyware and viruses.
Be on guard!
