Scams via phone call, text and email are on the rise. To protect yourself from being scammed, learn about the most common forms and how to avoid them.
A bad actor may call or send you a text message or email, baiting you to provide personal information or click a malicious link. They aim to steal your log-in credentials or install malicious software on your device that can lead to financial loss or identity theft. Avoid these common scams with the following tips:
Text and Email Scams
• Never reply to suspicious texts or emails, and refrain from clicking suspicious links.
• Be especially alert when you receive messages that try to elicit an emotional response or sense of urgency. (Examples: “Dear ‘Your Name,’ Click here to redeem your sweepstakes reward” or “URGENT! your bank account is locked, click here to unlock.”)
• If you get a message saying it is from an organization and you are not sure it is real, call the company using their publicly listed number instead of what’s provided in the suspicious message.
Voice Call Scams
• Never give information to someone who calls from an unknown number saying they are someone you know or from a company or organization that you are familiar with.
• Instead, hang up and call that person or company using their publicly listed phone number to see if the original caller was legitimate.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff in collaboration with the SGI-USA IT Department
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