We're most vulnerable when we're not paying attention or when coincidence catches us off guard. This would have been an easy scam to fall for had I not been paying attention. First off, we're doing business with Hawai‘i Life, so it wasn't unusual to receive an email from them. Second, everything in the email was legitimate—except for the "click here" link. However, even the … [Read more...] about When we are vulnerable — an email scam tip
Scams & Cons
Easy tip to avoid tricky Craigslist and PayPal email scam
One of my beta readers, Celeste G., forwarded news about an article in the New York Post concerning a Craigslist and PayPal email scam. She had two reasons for writing. First, she said the article didn't make it completely clear how the scam worked. Second, she thought I might be interested in writing about it. The story goes like this. A New York man wanted to sell an … [Read more...] about Easy tip to avoid tricky Craigslist and PayPal email scam
The great garbage disposal caper — 3 plumbers, 14 days
Trust me. This is not a scam tip. But, if you own an older home and have jobs piling up, this story might help you avoid spending more than you need for service. The great garbage disposal caper began on Memorial Day weekend. The first sign of a problem was when instead of merrily grinding away when the switch was flipped, the garbage disposal simply hummed. Not a problem. I've … [Read more...] about The great garbage disposal caper — 3 plumbers, 14 days
Will medical identity theft be the next big thing?
A hacker wants to steal your personal information. Oh, and your health insurance company wants to reduce their costs. These two pieces of information are far more closely tied together than you might realize. First, identity theft is a massive business. Also, if your insurance company can get you to visit a doctor online, you both save money. The only problem is, will these two … [Read more...] about Will medical identity theft be the next big thing?
The new cars are here email scam
I have to admit, I didn't pay much attention when the first email advertising new cars from a local Ford dealer came in. Never have bought a Ford. Don't need one today. When the second email about new cars for sale arrived—this one from a local Mercedes-Benz dealer—I was irritated. How did I get on their list? Why were they spamming me? The new cars email scam As it turns … [Read more...] about The new cars are here email scam