an Identity Thief or Scammer?
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Can you
There is a fee to both freeze my credit and unfreeze it when applying for a loan.
If I freeze my credit, it will reduce my credit score.
It will prevent an identity thief from opening a line of credit in my name.
It can only be applied to credit reports for people over the age of 18.
A
B
C
D
A credit freeze essentially blocks access to your credit profile, which means lenders cannot extend credit in your name while the freeze is in place. There are no fees associated with freezing or unfreezing your credit. Plus, you can temporarily lift the freeze if you need to apply for new credit – it will prevent both you and identity thieves from getting a loan! Parents and guardians can also freeze the credit file of their children under the age of 16. To freeze your credit, contact each of the three credit bureaus. Place a freeze on your credit files at each major bureau for the best protection.
Next
e.g., a loan
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
Which of the following is true about credit freezes?
You got it!
Sorry, wrong answer
Which is the most secure way of contacting tech support?
Asking Alexa, Google, or Siri to dial the number for me.
Searching on the Internet and calling the first number that appears in the results.
Searching on social media sites for the company’s support group or website.
Finding the number on the company’s official website, on my bill, or on my warranty documents.
Alexa and Siri are very helpful for many things. However, one task you should avoid asking Alexa and other similar software to do is dialing the number for your device’s tech support. Instead, look for the telephone number on the company’s official website, on your bill, or on your warranty documents that came with the appliance or device. Be careful to dial the correct number for tech support though! Clever scam artists often purchase telephone numbers that are a digit off the legitimate phone number to take advantage of common misdials.
e.g., Facebook, Instagram
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Great answer!
Not quite
How can you tell if a legitimate charity contacted you by phone?
I can’t.
If I confirm the name that they give me with the IRS.
I’m on the National Do Not Call Registry, so charities can’t contact me by phone.
If my caller ID displays the name and number of a legitimate charity.
I can't.
Caller beware: Scammers may use the name of a legitimate charity, so verifying the name of the charity with the IRS or BBB may not be the best way to protect yourself from this particular scam. Plus, charities are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, so even if you’ve registered your home or cell phone, legitimate charities like the Red Cross can still call you to solicit donations. Caller ID can be manipulated through spoofing, allowing the scammer to display whatever number or name they want. If a “charity” contacts you, and you're considering giving, go to Charity Navigator or CharityWatch to verify it's legitimacy before donating via their website – not over the phone.
Nope
Yep!
When setting up a security question for a sensitive account, which of these is the best answer to use?
My mother’s maiden name.
A nonsensical answer that only I can remember.
My pet’s name.
Name of my elementary school, high school, or college.
Unfortunately, with the help of social media and other online profiles, all the other answers can be found by a scammer diligently searching online, as many people don’t realize they put the answers to common security questions in their social media posts. Using a nonsensical answer only you will know and remember to security questions may sound silly, but it also makes it incredibly hard for a scammer or identity thief to guess it. For instance, for the question asking for your mom’s maiden name, make the answer “firetruck” or “ice cream.”
e.g., email, bank, loan, etc.
********************
Answer the security question below:
Spot on!
You’re at a coffee shop and connect to their public Wi-Fi network. What websites should you avoid visiting?
Online merchant sites.
Your personal email address.
Your bank account.
All of the above.
While using the local café’s public Wi-Fi may be convenient, it’s vital to use caution when connecting to unsecured or public Wi-Fi. Some Wi-Fi networks might exist solely to steal unsuspecting users’ data. If you must use public Wi-Fi, consider using a VPN as a safer method for connecting to the world wide web.
e.g., Amazon, Target, Staples
That's correct!
Which of the following are indications of a lottery scam?
You are notified by phone that you won a lottery that you didn’t enter.
You are asked for an administrative fee after being told that you won.
You are asked to pay income taxes on the winnings to the lottery before you can collect your prize.
No legitimate lottery asks for administrative fees to collect your prize. And, although income taxes are due to the government for lottery winnings, no legitimate lottery collects taxes on behalf of the IRS – they either deduct your taxes from your winnings before giving you your prize, or they give you the entire prize, leaving you with the responsibility to pay the taxes. If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and report the number to the FTC.
You get a call from your bank saying there’s been unusual activity on your account and that they need to verify your identity. What should you do?
Verify your identity immediately with the caller.
Ask to speak with a manager.
Hang up and call your bank directly about the alleged issue with your account.
Hang up immediately. It’s a scam.
This one can be tricky, so to be on the safe side, flip the script from “trust but verify” to “verify, then trust.” The call could be legitimate. But it could also be an identity thief attempting to catch you off guard to steal your money or personally identifiable information. Err on the side of caution and call your bank directly to find out.
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About Iris® Powered by Generali
About Steve Weisman, Editor of Scamicide
About Iris® Powered by Generali Iris® Powered by Generali is a B2B2C global identity and cyber protection company owned by the 190-year-old multinational insurance company, Generali, offering always-available identity resolution experts (real people, 24/7/365) and tech-forward solutions that uncomplicate the protection process. Understanding that victimization has no geographical boundaries, we’ve got a solution no matter your customers’ coordinates.
About Steve Weisman, Editor of Scamicide Steve Weisman is a lawyer, college professor at Bentley University, and is a nationally recognized expert in scams, identity theft, and cybersecurity. Steve is the editor of Scamicide.com, where he provides daily updates about the latest scams and identity theft schemes. Scamicide.com was named by the NY Times as one of the three best sources of information about Coronavirus-related scams. Steve has also authored ten books, including “The Truth about Avoiding Scams,” which was chosen as one of the Top Ten Business Books of the Year by Smart Money Magazine. Steve has appeared as an expert on various news networks and talk radio shows, and was a talk radio host in Boston, where he co-hosted the nationally syndicated radio show, “A Touch of Grey” and was awarded an Achievement in Radio Award as the best afternoon radio show in Boston for his radio show, “Live Money with Steve and Ginger.” Steve is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and Boston College Law School, a member of the Massachusetts Bar and Federal Bar, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Visit Scamicide.com to learn more about Steve and Scamicide.
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