It’s sad but true: just because smartphones have replaced landlines does not mean the old-fashioned phone scam isn’t still alive and kicking. In fact, things seems to be worse than ever as more and more people click on links they don’t recognize or wind up downloading apps that look promising and turn out to be dangerous. Victims of phone scams can have their data and even identify stolen and it can be a complete hassle to try and correct the problem. Here’s the solution: staying aware of the most common phishing attempts you’re likely to encounter and avoiding becoming a victim in the first place. Tech experts say you should never fall for this one common scam — it’s so dangerous.
Phishing Messages And Links
It’s so common to receive a message and a link that you don’t recognize — and to then let curiosity get the best of you. Don’t fall for it.
“The links can promise you won an Apple product, they can warn of a security breach on your phone, and they can even come from your friends (I have a folder with a ton of these scams if they want examples),” says Safety Expert Cathy Pedrayes, author of The Mom Friend’s Guide to Safety and Security. “What’s dangerous about it is that it’s often a way to steal access to your account, bypass two-factor authentication and if you reuse passwords, you may have inadvertently given them access to a lot of your accounts.”
Suspicious Apps
Another way to scam iPhone users is to hide malicious software in apps, according to Pedrayes. “Being cautious of what we download and periodically reviewing what we’ve downloaded is important, along with updating them,” Pedrayes says. “A good example of this would be free VPN services. Often, they’re malware or at the very least, not as secure as you’d hoped. A few years ago, the Australian government took a look at some free VPN services and found that 75% of them were malware.”
Fake Websites
If you’re new to a website and something seems off about it, check the web address to make sure it looks legit. This is especially important when you’re doing a little online shopping and hoping to pick up goods like tech devices at a discount.
“Another scam to watch out for is fake websites that claim to sell iPhone devices at a discount,” says Oberon Copeland, owner and CEO of Veryinformed.com. “These sites may collect your personal information or infect your device with malware. Only purchase iPhones from authorized retailers such as the Apple Store.”
Phone scam attempts are going to continue happening. Arming yourself with knowledge is the best way to avoid buying into one.
