Scam Alert -- Fooled by a fake funeral notice

Email users are increasingly savvy about spotting scam messages. So scammers are always on the hunt for new ways to evade the "delete" button. This scam email, disguised as a funeral notification, reaches a new low.



How the Scam Works:  

 

You receive an email with the subject line "funeral notification." The message appears to be from a funeral home in Texas, but it could be from anywhere. The email invites you of an upcoming "celebration of your friends life service." The email looks real. It uses the business's actual colors and logo.

 

The email instructs you to click a link to view the invitation and "more detailed information about the farewell ceremony." But instead of pointing to the funeral home's website, it sends you to a foreign domain. Scammers place malware on these third party websites that downloads to your computer, giving scammers access to information on your machine.



As usual, watch for scammers changing up this con. They may hijack a different funeral home's name and/or change their message.



Tips to Avoid Email Scams:



Spot common email scams no matter the circumstances, by following these tips:

Don't believe what you see. As in the example above, scammers can easily copy a real business' colors, logo and even email address.

Hover over links to check their source. Place your mouse over hyper-linked text and the true destination will appear.

Be wary of unexpected emails that contain links or attachments. As always, do not click on links or open the files in unfamiliar emails.

Beware of pop-ups. Some pop-ups are designed to look like they've originated from your computer. If you see a pop-up that warns of a problem that needs to be fixed with an extreme level of urgency, it may be a scam.

Watch for poor grammar and spelling. Scam emails often are riddled with typos.

Ignore calls for immediate action. Scam emails try to get you to act before you think by creating a sense of urgency. Don't fall for it.

Imposture Facebook Accounts Fool Friends

Fake Facebook profiles are a problem nearly as old as the social media site itself. Brands and celebrity pages are particularly prone to copies. But scammers also impersonate ordinary people in attempt to scam their friends and family. 

  

How the Scam Works:

 

You get a Friend Request. You don't have time to check out this new person, but you hit "accept" anyway. Or your privacy settings are pretty wide open and non-Friends can see your pages. Either way, the scammer uses the access to your account to scrape images and other information from your profile. He/she creates a new account under your same name and fills it with your photos, interests and status updates. With 500 million people on Facebook worldwide, you are unlikely to spot the impersonator. 

 

After creating a duplicate account, the scammer sends Friend Requests to your existing Facebook Friends. People recognize your name and hit "accept," not realizing that the account is a fake. They don't notice anything is wrong until your imposture starts sending out requests for money and spam links. 

 

Messages and links may be obvious scams when coming from an unknown email address, but they are a lot more credible when shared by a Facebook "Friend." Always be careful what you click, no matter who shares it. 

What to Do About Facebook Impostures:

Help combat fake Facebook accounts by taking the following steps: 

• Always double check Friend Requests: Don't just automatically click "accept" for new requests. Take a few moments to look over the profile and verify that account is a real person, not a scam. Scan your list of current Friends to see if any show up twice (the newer account is going to be the scam one).
• Don't blindly trust friends' recommendations: Just because a link or video is shared by a friend doesn't mean that it's safe to click. It could be a fake account, a hacker or merely that your friend hasn't done his or her research. 
• Watch for poor grammar: Scam Facebook posts are often riddled with typos and poor English. 
• Alert your friends: If your Facebook Friend suddenly starts posting links to work-at-home schemes or scandalous celebrity videos, tell him or her directly about the suspicious activity. Otherwise, they may never know that their account has been hacked/impersonated. 
• Report fake accounts to Facebook: Facebook does not allow accounts that are pretending to be someone else. Here are instructions on reporting them. 

Don't Fall For Fake Typhoon Haiyan Email Requests Scammers Emerge After Devastating Typhoon Haiyan

The scammers are at it again. With every horrific natural disaster, comes a despicable scammer who thinks they can make a quick buck off of the generosity of others. As the public's attention and hearts are focused on the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan, scammers are sending out fake messages claiming to be a victim of the disaster.

How the scam works:
Scam emails come in all shapes and sizes, but the message plea is always the same. The sender pulls at your heart strings and urges you to take action and help them get out of a dire situation. Most recently, Better Business Bureau has been made aware of the following fraudulent email pleading for assistance from the devastating typhoon.

"Good Day,

 Sorry for any inconvenience, but I'm in a terrible situation right now. I came down here to Manila Philippines for a program before the Typhoon happened which left me with almost nothing! My wallet and other valuables were stolen off last night by unknown thugs, leaving my passport and life safe. My luggage is still in custody of the hotel management pending when I make payment on outstanding bills I owe. I contacted my bank (E-mail) for a wire transfer but it has proven almost Impossible to operate my account from here as they made me understand international transactions take 7 working days to be effective I have also been to the police and embassy here, but they aren't helping issues, which i can't wait. I need you to help me with a loan to pay my hotel bills and get my self home. I will reimburse you soon as I get back Home. I will appreciate whatever you can assist me with. Let me know if you can be of help.

All hopes on you."

BBB Wise Giving Alliance has seen charity scams following all recent natural disasters and manmade tragedies, and encourages donors to balance their generosity with thoughtfulness and research. "Try to avoid making emotional giving decisions," says H. Art Taylor, President and CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, "The first request for a donation may not be the best choice. Check with the BBB to help avoid questionable fundraising efforts."

Click here for a full list of donating mistakes to avoid. 

For More Information

 
Visit give.org for a full list of Charity Reports. To find out more about scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper. 

Fake Netflix Emails

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers of a new scam involving fake emails that appear to be from Netflix. The emails warn customers that there is a problem with their account, and urges them to click a link to update their payment information. This link will take customers to a site created by the scammer to steal your information. To avoid the scam, don't click on links in unsolicited emails from Netflix. In addition, only make updates to your account on the official Netflix site, not via email.



Advertisement:
DIY Help for Mobile Home Repairs Get Free DIY Help for Home, Manufactured Mobile Home and Modular Home Repair Problems.

The Truth Behind the Area Code Scam

Rumors are circulating about so-called "scam area codes." According to emails, blog posts and social media on the subject, consumers are led to believe that they will be charged thousands of dollars for accidentally calling scam numbers. That's not true. While you should always check an unfamiliar area code before dialing, here's the real story. 

How the Scam Works:

 

You get a voicemail from an unknown number. The person on the message claims there is an emergency and urges you to call a number starting with an 809, 284, 649, or 876 area code. The "emergency" varies, but common scenarios involve either an injured (or arrested) relative, an overdue bill or a cash prize to claim.

 

When you return the call, a variety of things may happen.  The scammer may try to keep you on the line for as long as possible, wracking up fees on a toll number. Other times, the scammer may ask you to send money or share personal information.  It seems like a normal phone scam, but what's so special about these area codes? 

 

What's Really Happening:  

 

The 809, 284, 649, or 876 area codes are actually for international calls. (809 is the area code for the Dominican Republic). Sometimes calls between neighboring countries do not require the usual "011" international prefix; for instance, calls between the U.S. and Canada, or calls from the U.S. to the Caribbean. Callers may not realize they are dialing an  international phone number. 

 

Operating outside the US provides scammers with many of benefits. For example, scammers don't have to inform callers in advance of any special rates or fees. This means that when consumers think they are dialing a normal domestic number, they may actually be calling the international version of a 1-900 number. Other times, scammers use these numbers to pretend they are based in the U.S., lending credibility to their claims.  

 

If you call a 809, 284, 649, or 876 phone number, you will be charged for an international call and potentially extra fees. However, you will not automatically wrack up thousands of dollars in charges. 

 

How to Protect Yourself Against This Scam:

• Only return calls to familiar numbers. As a general rule, only call familiar area codes or do a quick Google search before placing a call. 
• Read your telephone bill carefully. Make sure that you have authorized all additional fees on your bill.
• Like with any other phone scam, the best way to protect yourself is to just hang up.  
• If you believe that you have been scammed:
  • Contact the carrier with whom the charge originated. The name of the carrier and the telephone number should be printed on your bill. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.
  • If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, contact your carrier. They should work with you to help remove fraudulent charges.

Scammers taking advantage of healthcare law confusion

According to a recent Pew poll, roughly 36 percent of Americans say they don't understand what the Affordable Care Act means for them.
With open enrollment in federal healthcare exchanges beginning next week, scammers are already taking advantage of the confusion associated with the nationwide mandate.
Telephone scams are nothing new in South Carolina, but with sweeping healthcare reform affecting virtually everyone in the country, scammers are following the headlines and taking advantage of what you don't know.
The state Department of Consumer Affairs says they're seeing an increase in healthcare scams across South Carolina.
The goal of fraudsters is to separate you from your sensitive personal information. In one such scam, scammers represent themselves as Medicare representatitives who need your Social Security number so they can issue you a new Medicare card.
Other scammers may try and coerce you to sign up for "Obamacare," or offer to send you a new medical alert device. Fraud experts warn, if you receive a cold call asking you to divulge any sensitive information regarding healthcare, someone is likely trying to scam you.
"Scammers use scare tactics to try and get you to do something," said Juliana Harris, Consumer Affairs official. "So it could even be that, 'Oh we're offering this great deal. If you don't sign up now, you could pay double,' or 'If you don't sign up now, you're going to jail, because it's illegal to have health insurance.'"
Fraud experts say they expect to see more of these scams in the coming months as people start to feel the pressure to purchase healthcare before the Jan. 1, 2014 deadline. To report suspicious calls or emails, contact the Department of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-922 1594.


Scammers taking advantage of healthcare law confusion - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |



Advertisement:
DIY Help for Mobile Home Repairs Get Free DIY Help for Home, Manufactured Mobile Home and Modular Home Repair Problems.

How a Fake Facebook Giveaway Fooled Fans

Facebook scammers are at it again. They impersonated JetBlue's Facebook page, pretending to offer a free vacation to a user who "liked" and shared the post. The fake account collected 1,000 likes in a single day, demonstrating that Facebook scams are as lucrative as ever.


How the Scam Worked:

A post from "JetBlue" appears in your Facebook newsfeed. The airline is offering the chance to win a free vacation for four. To enter, all you need to do is "like" and share the message.


The Facebook page looks real. It uses JetBlue's logo, colors and cover image. And the contest could be real too; businesses often run giveaways to bolster their Facebook likes.


However, there are two clues that this is a fake: the awkward grammar ("an all paid vacation" instead of "an all expenses paid vacation") and the fact that JetBlue's real page has 800K likes.


What's the Point of Facebook Scams?


Savvy spammers set up Facebook pages that urge users to "like," share or comment on the posts. Scams run the gamut heart tugging images of sick children with captions that falsely promise "a dollar donated for each 'like,'" to fake celebrity accounts to fraudulent contests. The more times the images are shared or "liked," the more it boosts the spam page's "edge rank," the score a Facebook page is given to dictate how it interacts with other Facebook profiles. After the page accumulates enough fans and a high enough "edge rank," the spammers sell it. Of course, scammers can use fake Facebook pages for more "traditional" scams like phishing for personal and/or banking information. If you want to be absolutely sure, go to the company's website and click on their Facebook link.


How can you avoid these scams? Do a quick search on Facebook before you "like" a business or other organization. You can make sure you have the right account by picking the one with substantially more "likes." For example, the real JetBlue page has 800,000 "likes."


I Spotted a Fake Facebook Page. What Should I Do? 

Don't share, like or comment on the posts. That just perpetuates Facebook spam.
Be sure to report fake profiles to Facebook.