Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Rotary Club of Shadowridge in Vista about how to avoid scams and cons. One of the questions that was asked had to do with the differences between using a debit card and a credit card. The question was, is one better to use than the other?While a credit card comes with a limit, a debit card is only limited by the … [Read more...] about Credit vs. debit cards, which is better?
Scams & Cons
Online photos can lead to scam
Have you thought about buying something online from someone you didn’t know? One of the latest scams reported by the FBI involves these online sales. Scammers are now using these opportunities to pass malware in email attachments and photos. Yes, indeed, those online photos can now contain viruses and other executable code. “Buyer beware” has taken on an entirely new … [Read more...] about Online photos can lead to scam
Latest online scam targets anyone with a phone
Here's the latest FBI notice from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3 - ic3.gov). This one's a beauty and relies on the fact that everyone loves to be a winner. This scam works when you receive an automated telephone call that claims to be from your telecommunication carrier. The call directs you to a website to receive a credit, discount, or prize ranging from $300 to … [Read more...] about Latest online scam targets anyone with a phone
Sextortion scams
You might wonder what in the world a sextortion scam is. According to the FBI and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), these scams have been for a couple of years. Here's how they work. You receive a contact via social media or an online dating website. The person contacting you spend some time establishing rapport and eventually asks you to expose yourself in a sexually … [Read more...] about Sextortion scams
Operation Homeless – the check scam
This arrest in Lincoln, NE didn't make the national news, but it does show how far some people will go to take advantage of others. On Apr. 4., Derrick Andrews, 22, of Georgia was charged with three counts of second-degree forgery by Lincoln police for his involvement in a check-cashing scam that has been dubbed “Operation Homeless.”A presentation given by Assistant United … [Read more...] about Operation Homeless – the check scam