In the News

Scammers know you are busy. They will send thousands of emails to trick you. If you are not paying attention and fall for the scam, that’s all they need to steal your money.

Scammers operate by their own set of rules. In fact, they don’t recognize any rules at all. They are only concerned about their own interests and go out of their way to take advantage of others. They steal others’ secret credentials, like usernames and passwords, to gain access to email accounts and in some cases, even bank accounts.

Here is a common set of tactics that scammers use to obtain your username and password, especially during the holidays:

1. Create a fake website with convincing graphics and a reason for a visitor to create an account and log on.
2. Craft a tricky email with an invitation to click on a link to the fake website.
3. Use automated software to email thousands of email addresses with the tricky email.
4. Wait for someone to open the link and try to log on to the fake website.
5. Then, they will use the stolen username and password to enter the victim’s email account.
6. Once inside the victim’s email account, the scammers can change the address where their checks are sent or the bank account where a direct deposit or loan advance is made.

Finally, scammers know you might be supporting charities during this time of year. They will send thousands of emails leveraging your generosity. Be hyperaware of the tactics listed above and delete any emails that don’t seem right or that come from senders you do not know, and any emails that are suspicious in any way. This will help keep your information and finances safe and secure.