Last week I received an email credit card offer for the Vast Platinum Shopping Credit Card. Not having seen a credit card offer in the mail in a long time, I was curious. With a little checking, it became obvious very quickly that the email was a scam using what is, at best, a dubious, but legitimate, credit card.The email offerDealing with spam (not the canned kind, … [Read more...] about The Vast Platinum Shopping Credit Card — scam or a good deal?
Scams & Cons
6 tips for dealing with Amazon brushing scams
A package from Amazon arrived about two weeks ago. My wife hadn’t ordered it. Nor had she paid for it. After a great deal of trouble, we finally found out how to get past the Amazon robots and get to a real person. We suspected this to be one of the Amazon brushing scams, and yet, when we finally reached a real person at Amazon to report it things did not go well.What are … [Read more...] about 6 tips for dealing with Amazon brushing scams
Social media shopping scams warning signs and tips
If you like shopping the sales you see on social media, think twice the next time you spot a great deal. On August 3, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported a rise in social media shopping scams. Read on to see how scammers are using social media for shopping scams.Cookies, ads, and social media shopping scamsLet's begin with cookies—and I'm not referring … [Read more...] about Social media shopping scams warning signs and tips
Scam tip: free face masks—not really
Free face masks?If your first reaction is, what do I have to do to get one? Think again. This is a scam in which a bad actor offers free face masks in exchange for your Medicare or Social Security number. Obviously, you know not to give out your Social Security number. Right? Please tell me you do. But a Medicare number? Why would anyone want that? It turns out, for a lot … [Read more...] about Scam tip: free face masks—not really
Scam Tip: COVID-19 Contact Tracing Scams
It was only a matter of time before scammers realized yet another opportunity provided by COVID-19—contact tracing scams. I'm a strong believer in contact tracing as a way to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but I also know scammers will use any trick they can to steal your information. Here are a few tips to help you safely maneuver through these very stressful times.What … [Read more...] about Scam Tip: COVID-19 Contact Tracing Scams