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  Geebo 8:00 am on May 2, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: online dating ( 7 ), romance scam ( 70 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), subscription fees   

  The latest romance scam targeting online daters 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In the digital age, finding love online has become increasingly common. However, with the rise of online dating comes the unfortunate reality of romance scams. The FBI has recently issued a warning about a new and sophisticated scam targeting users of online dating services. This scam not only preys on the hopes of finding love but also aims to deceive and defraud unsuspecting victims.

  The scam begins innocently enough, with scammers creating fake personas on dating apps. These individuals go to great lengths to establish trust with their victims, engaging in conversations and building rapport. Once a connection is established, the scammers then attempt to move the conversation to an encrypted chat platform, purportedly for safety reasons.

  Under the guise of protecting against online predators, the scammers provide a link to a website offering a “free” verification process. This website appears legitimate but employs scare tactics to persuade users to sign up.

  The verification process is nothing more than a ploy to trick victims into signing up for costly monthly subscription fees on a private, low-quality dating site. These fees are often hidden and may appear on users’ credit card statements without their knowledge. Additionally, the personal information entered during the verification process, including email addresses, phone numbers, and credit card details, is harvested by the scammers for further nefarious purposes.

  The FBI warns that these scams can escalate, with scammers using social engineering tactics to manipulate victims into divulging more information or even clearing out their bank accounts. This tactic is known as the pig butchering scam. This type of fraud can have devastating financial and emotional consequences for victims.

  It’s crucial to verify the legitimacy of any websites or services before providing any sensitive information. Look for red flags such as unsolicited links, requests for payment or personal information, and poor grammar or spelling.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on October 1, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Android ( 8 ), apps ( 15 ), gift cards ( 100 ), Google Play Store, identity theft ( 105 ), robocalls ( 8 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), subscription fees, voice cloning ( 23 )   

  Scam Round Up: Android Apps, Recorded Calls, and more 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Today, we’re closing out the week with another trio of scams that you may not normally come across in your daily life.

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  Internet security experts are reporting about a wave of apps from the Google Play Store that have scammed Android users. The apps vary from photo editing to astrology, but their real purpose is to add charges to your phone bill. The apps tell users that they’ve won some form of free gift. All the user needs to do is enter their phone number into the app. However, instead of receiving a gift, the app signs users up to a monthly subscription fee of $42 a month that’s added to the user’s monthly phone bills. For some users, that’s more than double their monthly phone bill. Even though there’s an app in the Play Store, that doesn’t make it automatically secure. Always checks the permissions the app is asking for and avoid giving the app makers any more personal information than they need.

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  Robocalls have been a scourge plaguing humanity for a few years now. It’s safe to assume that most of us have received a call asking us about our car’s warranty, even if some of us don’t own cars. However, some of these spam robocalls are more sinister than they appear. According to security experts, your only response to these calls should be to hang up. The last thing you want to do is say anything on these calls. The call will ask you if you want to stop these calls, just say yes. If you say yes, scammers can record your voice and use it to authorize a fraudulent purchase on your credit card. It also shows that there is someone at your phone number, which could result in you being targeted for more scam calls. While some people like to engage scammers, it’s a better strategy to just hang up.

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  And of course, we can’t talk about scams without usually talking about gift cards in some form or fashion. A couple in North Carolina randomly received a gift card in the mail that was supposedly worth $400. The couple contacted their local news channel to see if this was a scam and of course, it was. How the scam works is the letter will contain a web link you need to go to in order to activate the card. Once you go to the link, you’re asked to input personal information such as your name, date of birth, and social security number. If you do this, your identity is almost immediately stolen. Please keep in mind that gift cards are the currency of scammers and should only be used for their intended purpose.

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  Thank you for reading, and have a great and safe weekend.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 10, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: DirecTV ( 2 ), DISH, free trial ( 3 ), qr codes ( 7 ), satellite tv ( 2 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), subscription fees   

  Scam Round Up: QR Codes, Satellite TV, and unsubscribe scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Once again, we’ve come across a few scams that may not warrant an entire blog post to themselves, but we felt deserved your attention.

  We’ve all seen QR Codes, even though we may not know what their called. They’re the codes that retailers and other companies use that can be scanned by your phone. In some instances, they give you more information on a product or service. However, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that scammers are using QR Codes for devious purposes. These malicious QR Codes are even worse than links used in phishing emails, as the QR codes can not only lead you to malicious websites or inject malware into your device, they can also open up many payment apps. It’s recommended that you only scan QR Codes from entities you trust.

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  If you subscribe to a satellite TV service like DISH, or DirecTV, you may want to be wary of any phone calls offering upgrades. If someone calls you claiming to be from your provider and asking for your address and PIN, hang up. Scammers will try to get you to pay for non-existent upgrades while saying it’s a better deal to pay now over the phone than having a technician show up. These providers will never ask you for personal information over the phone, and giving a scammer your PIN could lead to your payments being directed to them rather than your provider.

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  Lastly, we have a scam that wants you to unsubscribe from a service or product, sort of. In this scam, the scammers call their victims and tell them that they must unsubscribe from a free trial or their credit card will be charged. If the victim says that they never signed up for any free trial, the scammers will say that someone else must have signed them up, and they still need to cancel. The scammers will then lead victims to a phony website where they can supposedly unsubscribe from the service they never signed up for in the first place. Of course, these websites are designed to not only steal your information, but can inject malware on to your device as well. If you receive one of these calls, it’s recommended that you contact your credit card company to make sure there are no subscription services on your account that you didn’t sign up for personally.

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  And again, as we like to say, just because a scam isn’t happening in your area, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look out for it.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on May 3, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: CBD, free trial ( 3 ), health supplements, Scams ( 1,354 ), subscription fees   

  The CBD subscription scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, has dramatically increased in popularity over the past few years. For those of you who may not be aware, CBD is derived from the cannabis plant but does not contain the ingredient THC that causes cannabis users to get high. In many circles, CBD has been described as a panacea of sorts. It’s been touted as a cure for everything from anxiety to epilepsy. However, the FDA disputes many of these claims and CBD products cannot legally claim to treat any disease. We’re not here to discuss CBD’s efficacy when it comes to being a medical treatment. Instead, we’re here to talk about how it’s popularity is being used by online scammers.

  The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about online ads that offer free CBD samples. You may see an ad on social media for free CBD samples that is even touted by a celebrity. If you respond to the ad, you’ll be more than likely told that you have to give a credit or debit card number to receive your free sample. Shipping is the usual reason given for needing your card number. What you’re not being told, or is being hidden deep in the fine print, is that you’re actually signing up for a subscription service that could charge you hundreds of dollars a month. This is a popular scam that has plagued the health supplement market for years and is now taking advantage of CBD since it’s the new hot item. By the time you realize you’re being ripped off, it’s usually past the cancellation date that the seller also didn’t tell you about.

  In order to avoid this scam, it’s best to avoid any free trial offers online. But if you’re intent on giving a free trial a try, use a credit card if at all possible since it’s easier to dispute fraudulent charges with a credit card than a debit card. You should also ask if you’re being signed up for a subscription and about any return policies the company has. Lastly, research the company before entering into any kind of trial program. A quick web search of the company’s name along with the phrases ‘scam’ or ‘complaints’ can tell you a lot.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on February 10, 2020 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: online dating ( 7 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), subscription fees   

  Online dating can be a scam itself 

  

  There has always been a number of pitfalls when it comes to online dating. Not only are romance scams mostly perpetrated through online dating but there’s also the dangers of predators and human trafficking. These problems are especially prevalent on free websites and apps. Due to the low barrier of entry, many of these platforms are rife with scammers, predators, and pick-up artists. So you may assume that a paid dating platform should have fewer of these problems. That may be true, however, depending on the platform it could open you up to a whole host of other problems from the platform itself.

  Many of these platforms rely on high-pressure sales tactics to get users to sign up. They’ll promise a one time only discounted fee to sign up only to lock you into a contract. The same also goes for free trial periods. Once some of these platforms have your payment information, they can continue to charge you once the introductory period has elapsed. These platforms will also make it incredibly difficult to cancel your membership. Some have even been known to continue billing users even after the membership has been canceled.

  If you’re inclined to register for one of these platforms, the Better Business Bureau recommends knowing what the cancellation policy is before signing up. That way if you’re not satisfied with the service you know your options when it comes to canceling your membership. The BB also recommends not falling for the slick advertising that some of these platforms release and to be wary of phrases such as “an exclusive network of people” or “for sincere daters only.” If a platform becomes particularly difficult to cancel, you can always contact your debit or credit card company and have the card on file canceled. That will require you to wait a few days to receive a new card but it’s a guaranteed way to stop any unwanted subscription charges.