Important Tips To Help Minnesotan’s Avoid Being Scammed

My wife and I were having a conversation the other day about something, and we came to a point where neither of us knew the answer. I quickly pulled out my phone and did a search for the topic and found an answer.  

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That led me to think about how I wished the internet was around when I was a kid. Instead of rifling through encyclopedias trying to find an answer that I normally didn’t find, I could have produced much better research papers than what I turned in.  

The internet has improved our lives in so many ways, but at the same time it has also put us in danger and stolen our money or tried to. Well, the internet itself didn’t do those things, but bad people using the internet have. 

It requires a lot of attention, too much sometimes, to make sure we’re safe and those bad agents as they’re being called play on that. They work extra hard to make sure they can fool us with emails, links, texts and websites that look real but aren’t.  

Signs To Look For:

AARP says that the most common form of hacking comes from someone pretending to be customer support or customer service. And these folks have gotten really good at pulling the wool over people's eyes. 

This topic is an everyday conversation between AARP members and their fraud victim support department. So, they offer these six signs to look for that could help you determine if the person you’re in contact with is trying to steal from you.  

First, did they contact you first. Whether it’s via text message, email or some other way, someone reaching out to you with an urgent request to contact them could be a sign of a problem. 

Next, the website you are directed to go to looks similar, but it’s exactly the same as the company they say they represent. This is an area where scammers really have success in duping people. You should look for anything that looks different in the web address as a sign. 

Another popular approach is someone contacting you about your account and then asking you for the information. If they’re really looking at your account to see there’s a problem, they should not need this information.  

Here is where having security codes comes in handy. If it’s really your bank or whoever is calling, they’ll ask you the answer to a security question. 

This may sound silly, but it’s still being used and is most likely working for scammers, if they ask for payment in the form of a gift card or crypto payment.  

If the person who contacts you is really putting pressure on you for your information and an immediate response, they’re most likely a scammer. Most places you do business with will be understanding if you take some safeguards for them to prove they are who they say they are. 

And lastly, AARP says if you are asked to download and install an app on your phone this should be a red flag. In most cases you’ll either have their app on your phone already, or they won’t need you to do this. You could be giving scammers an open door right into your phone and your money. 

Here's Something Else We Have To Pay Attention To:

Did you know that scammers will create websites that look official and then buy ads so that Google or other search engines make them one of the first ones you see when you do a search.  

When you go to a website, pay close attention to details to try and determine if the site you’ve landed on is for real.  

Tips For Avoiding The Scam:

Take your time when it comes to accessing if the websites, texts, links or emails are real. A few minutes extra before sending someone your information could save you months if not years or fighting to protect what you have.  

If someone says they need to call a customer support number, verify that number by going to the company's website and see if the number they gave you matches what is online.  

AARP says that booking a trip online is a very common place that scammers live and play these days. Try to deal with airlines, established cruise companies or travel agents directly to avoid trouble in this area.  

And if you think someone is trying to scam you, contact the company they say they are representing as well as your local authorities. Odds are you aren’t the only person in your area that is being targeted, and you could help some else avoid becoming a victim.  

There’s a lot here I understand, but as I stressed before, protecting yourself is worth any time it takes to sharpen your skills against scammers.