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All Posts Tagged Tag: ‘Do not call registry’

Are You Being Overwhelmed by Spam Phone Calls and Text Messages?

Posted by admin in 

Unwanted calls and spam texts are annoying, but you can do something about them. The New York Times has reported that there are steps you can take to block and report spam calls and texts. Here are some basic recommendations.

– Block and report individual numbers.

– Don’t dial any numbers in an automated menu, don’t reply to any text messages with “STOP,” don’t even talk.

– You can put your number on the Do Not Call list and report unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission.

CLICK HERE to read the complete article in the New York Times and learn more about the action you can take to reduce the number of unwanted calls and texts.

 

Can You Hear Me Phone Scam

Posted by admin in 

The scam involves an automated call that asks “Can you hear me” and when the person receiving the call indicates “yes,” the response is recorded and used to authorize unwanted charges on your phone bill through cramming or other accounts.

Never respond with an affirmative declaration, such as “yes” to any automated call or telemarketer.

If you want to avoid such telemarketing calls, you can do so by going to www.donotcall.gov/, and enroll in the Do-Not-Call List

Are you getting “Robocalls” on your cell phone?  Robocalls are phone calls with prerecorded messages. To can avoid robocalls by enrolling in nomorobo, which cuts off robocalls after one ring.  You can enroll at www.nomorobo.com/

To read the entire article on Steve Weisman’s Spamacide site, CLICK HERE
.

 

Beware of Tech Support Popup Scams

Posted by admin in 

Ever receive a popup warning on your computer that warns you that your computer has a virus or malicious software? 

If you get a call from someone who claims to be a tech support person, hang up. A caller who creates a sense of urgency or uses high-pressure tactics indicating that your computer has a serious virus is probably a scam artist. Once they have you on the phone, they often try to gain your trust by pretending to be associated with well-known companies (Microsoft, etc.). They may ask you to go to your computer and perform a series of complex tasks.  Their tactics are designed to scare you into believing they can help fix your “problem” for a fee.

Once they’ve gained your trust, they may:

  • Ask you to give them remote access to your computer and then make changes to your settings that could allow them access to your files or wipe out all the files
  • Try to enroll you in a worthless computer maintenance or warranty program
  • Ask for credit card information so they can bill you for phony services and use your credit cards for their own use
  • Trick you into installing malware that could steal sensitive data, like user names and passwords to access your bank records and other online services

Keep these other tips in mind:

  • Never give remote control to anyone you do not know
  • Do not rely on caller ID alone to authenticate a caller.  They may appear to be calling from a legitimate company or a local number
  • Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone who calls and claims to be from tech support, a bank, or the government.
  • Never give your password on the phone. No banks, financial institutions. or other online services will ever ask for any personal information
  • Register your phone number with the NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY, and  report illegal sales calls.