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Buyer Beware
In today’s world, we are faced with countless choices when making a purchase. With so many options on the market, it can be challenging to know which product is the right fit for us. In this article, we’ll explore the idea of buyer beware and how it applies to our modern lives.
What is Vishing
Vishing is a phishing attack where an attacker tries to trick you into giving them sensitive information over the phone. They may pose as a customer service representative or some other authority figure and get you to provide them with your credit card number, an account password, or additional sensitive information.
Vishing can be challenging to spot because the attacker may have some basic information about you that they’ve gleaned from your social media profiles or other online sources. They may also use spoofed caller ID information to make it look like they’re calling from a legitimate company.
If you receive a call from someone who claims to be from your bank or another company, do not give them any personal information. Hang up and call the customer service number for the company using a number you know to be legitimate (like the one on the back of your credit card).
Never give out personal or financial information to someone who calls you, even if they claim to be from a trusted company. If you’re unsure whether a call is legitimate, hang up and call the customer service number for the company using a number you know to be legitimate.
Car Buying Scams
Beware of scams that could leave you out of pocket if you’re in the market for a new car. Some unscrupulous dealers may try to sell you a car that is not roadworthy or inflate the price of a vehicle by claiming it has features that it doesn’t. Here are some common car-buying scams to watch out for:
1. The “bait and switch”: This is where a dealer advertises a car at an unbeatable price, but when you get to the dealership, they try to sell you a different (more expensive) model.
2. The “add-ons”: Be careful of dealers trying to add extra costs for extended warranties or rust-proofing treatments. These are often overpriced and not worth the money.
3. The “lemon” is when a dealer sells you a car that is not roadworthy or has severe mechanical problems. If you suspect you’ve been sold a lemon, take the vehicle to an independent mechanic for a check-up.
If you’re aware of these scams, you can shop for your new car with confidence. Do your research beforehand and know what you’re looking for.
What is Phishing Scams
The term “phishing” scams refer to fraudulent email messages that trick recipients into disclosing personal or financial information. These messages often appear to come from a legitimate source, such as a financial institution or online service and may contain links to fake websites that are designed to steal this information.
Phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and can be very difficult to spot. However, there are some tell-tale signs that an email may be a phishing scam, including:
The message contains spelling or grammatical errors.
The message is addressed to “Dear Valued Customer” or something similar, rather than using your name.
The message asks you to click on a link or open an attachment to update your account details or login information.
You don’t recognize the sender of the message.
If you receive an email that you think maybe a phishing scam, do not reply to it or click on any links. Instead, contact the company directly (using a phone number or website you know is legitimate) and ask if they sent the message. If they didn’t, report the email to them as a phishing scam.
Fake Pop-ups
If you’ve been browsing the internet and suddenly a pop-up appears, telling you that you’ve won a gift or prize, be very careful! These fake pop-ups are created by scammers intending to trick you into giving away your personal information.
These pop-ups look very convincing, often from well-known companies or brands. But if you take a closer look, you’ll usually see tell-tale signs that they’re not legitimate. For example, the web address may differ slightly from the company’s website.
If unsure, don’t click on any links in the pop-up and close it down immediately. And never enter your personal details unless you’re 100% sure that it’s a legitimate website.