The robocall even went so far as to say that several arrest warrants had been issued against me. For some people, including the most vulnerable in our community, this information would be alarming. It`s a message that could play with their primary fear. That`s why I decided to write this article to explain the strategy behind robocalls – and explain what to do once you`ve handled an robocall. The Australian Government`s Australian Cyber Security Centre investigated these robocalls and issued a key statement in August 2020 stating: “When victims have shared personal information, cybercriminals then use legitimate remote access applications such as Team Viewer or Zoho Assist to access people`s devices. They then log into your bank account and online accounts and steal your details for financial purposes. “Try to get that much information from them first, don`t give them personal information on the phone,” Martinez said. In response to There are other calls blocked by FTC employees, I received two robocalls today. Both tried to remotely access my computer. How to spot the scam: If Social Security (or an official agency) wanted to contact you, they wouldn`t call you to ask for your personal information, especially your Social Security number, over the phone. These agencies send emails and would never threaten you to get information or payments over the phone. A Michigan consumer sent us this voice message he recently received: “From the seat, which will expire in the next 24 business hours.

And once it expires, you will be taken into custody by the local police, because at that time, four serious charges are laid against your name. We ask that you contact us so that we can discuss this matter before taking legal action against you. Many people are having trouble sleeping, because of the pandemic and all the parts of our lives that affect them. And it doesn`t help if you get a call saying you owe money to the government. Oh, and, they add, you`ll go to jail if you don`t pay right away. It`s a scam and nothing to lose sleep. For those who are a little more cut off from people than usual, these calls may seem more real and disturbing than they are. If you know someone might be cut off from others, contact them to make sure they know these calls are scams. A group of people are attacked by a new phone scam. What to do: Don`t reply to the email or click on any links or attachments included in the message. When you receive a call, hang up the phone.

To correspond directly with your bank or financial institution, use verified contact information, such as information on your bank statement. “If you receive a suspicious call, remember to slow down, hang up the phone and take notes of the interaction,” Attorney General Donovan warned. “If you still need help determining if this is a scam, call us at CAP at 800-649-2424.” The scam: You receive a call (usually an automated call) stating that there has been criminal or fraudulent activity related to your Social Security number. The scammer may also pretend to be a government agency or law enforcement agencies, threatening arrest or serious consequences. The scam often starts with an automated call. How to spot the scam: Amazon won`t call you unless you`re wondering. If you have legitimate concerns about your Amazon account or other accounts, contact the company directly through a trusted contact, such as your account`s customer portal. “There are a lot of scammers who make phone calls and make people think they`re a big company or that they owe them money,” said Hilda Martínez, president of the Better Business Bureau. What to do: Make your transactions in cash and preferably in person.

If they refuse to meet in person or talk on the phone, ignore them and stop communicating. There are other options to block calls listed under www.FTC.gov/Calls. During the automated call from the “Australian Department of Home Affairs”, the robot asked me to dial “1” on my phone if I needed help defending the arrest warrant. How to spot the scam: If you`re feeling suspicious, stop selling or buying. The scammer may ask you to transfer money, send a bank transfer, or pay with gift cards. You may not want to talk on the phone or meet in person. Remember that you should not leave a security deposit before signing the rental agreement or the contract in person. What to do: If they claim to be someone you know, call the person with a verified phone number. If you receive a suspicious email, be sure to verify the email address. If you feel suspicious, learn the real story and talk to someone you trust. Cut off communication with the scammer.

If you receive an email from a friend or colleague asking for money, don`t send money. Be sure to call this person directly – it`s probably a scam. The scam: A call or pop-up message on your computer that claims to be from Microsoft, Apple, or another well-known technology company. They will say that there is a virus or other problem with your computer and will try to convince you to give them remote access to fix the problem. They can also request immediate payment for their services. The scam: There are a variety of fake relationship scams. Sometimes the scammer pretends to be someone you know, such as a lover, friend, relative, or even a religious leader. They usually contact you online or by phone and claim they need money.

In response, I always get these calls. of the government Kittez contact catches your attention. Criminals know this and use the threat of government action to incite individuals to commit acts that lead to theft. To trick victims into recalling or revealing personal information, these fraudulent messages indicate that they have an “urgent” message about “important personal matters” or “serious allegations” and that failure to respond may result in arrest or action against you. First, many people discovered calls, text messages, and emails from fake government officials. In 2020, people reported losing more than $174 million due to government fraud, with an average loss of $1,250. What to do: Hang up the phone, and when they call again, let the call go to voicemail. If you think you actually owe money to a debt collector or other agency, be sure to call with a trusted number. In both fraudulent calls, I hung up when the robocall asked me to dial a number. I immediately blocked the phone numbers from which the robocalls originated.

You can also copy the text and paste all or part of the text into a newsletter, email, or other message of your choice. All FTC information is publicly available and can be used and shared free of charge. On the second robocall, I was told that my “today” credit card would be charged $70 for an Amazon Prime service.