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Watch Out for "Account Suspended" Scams Feb 15, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #scams #tips #security A new favorite tactic of scammers is to try and convince you that one of your accounts has been suspended and that you need to take action to regain access or lift the suspension. The image above is from an email recently received by a DirectLink staff member that says, in rather poor grammar,... Full Article
’Tis the Season to Spot and Avoid Gift Card Scams By Kira Krown, Federal Trade Commission Consumer Education Specialist Dec 12, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #education #scams #ftc-article Article courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice blog Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one for you: Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Then help others spot and avoid them, too. Scammers want you to pay with gift... Full Article
Scammers are posing as your TV and internet company FTC Consumer Information By Kira Krown Oct 19, 2022 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article Did Spectrum or another provider call with an offer to lower your monthly TV, cable, or internet bill in exchange for a pre-payment or fee? It wasn’t them. It was a scammer, and you’re not alone. This year, the FTC has gotten thousands of reports — including many from older adults — about... Full Article
Amazon "Prime Account Report" Email Scam Alert Oct 18, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #community #email #scams ❗ Amazon scam alert ❗ The holidays are approaching, and folks are making more purchases online. Scammers take this opportunity to do what they do: try to trick you into giving up your money or personal information. Be on the lookout for scam emails from seemingly-reputable organizations,... Full Article
Don’t click on that random text. It’s a scam By Gema de las Heras, Federal Trade Commission Aug 16, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #news #scams #education #security #ftc-article #tips Sorry to burst your bubble. That unexpected text from the Postal Service (USPS), Costco, or The Home Depot telling you about an unclaimed package or a survey you can complete to claim a freebie is NOT from them. It’s a scam. The FTC has seen a spike in reports from people getting text messages... Full Article
Only scammers demand utility payments in cryptocurrency By Gema de las Heras, Federal Trade Commission Aug 11, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #news #scams #education #security #ftc-article It’s never a good time to have your utilities shut off. But during the hot summer months, the threat of having no power can be especially miserable: no AC, no refrigerator, not even a fan. Scammers know this and will try to trick you into sending them money to keep your electricity on. But there... Full Article
Watch out for emails from scammers posing as computer software company, McAfee. They’re fakes! By Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum Aug 4, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #scams #education #security #news Have you received an email with the subject line "Thank you for your purchase!" that looks like it came from McAfee, a computer security software company? The email claims your account has been “re-approved” and your credit or debit card was charged hundreds of dollars. At the very end of the... Full Article
Selling stuff online? Here’s how to avoid a scam By Alvaro Puig, Federal Trade Commission Aug 4, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #news #scams #education #security Courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Advice Blog Selling stuff online can be a great way to make some extra cash. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and other sites attract a lot of buyers — and scammers. Here are some ways scammers try to cheat you and what to do about it. Fake... Full Article
SCAM ALERT: Watch out for robocalls asking for personal info May 31, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #robocalls #news #scams The DirectLink Tech Support Team has received several calls from members today, May 31, reporting that they had been called by robocall scammers posing as Amazon. Be on the lookout for calls like these - their goal is to get you to give up your personal or banking information. It's important to... Full Article
Not enough baby formula means plenty of scammers FTC Consumer Information By Colleen Tressler May 19, 2022 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article Scammers exploiting the high demand for baby formula have sunk to new lows. They’re popping up online and tricking desperate parents and caregivers into paying steep prices for formula that never arrives. Scammers may set up fake websites or profiles on social media platforms with... Full Article
Shutting down tech support scams FTC Consumer Information By Andrew Rayo May 16, 2022 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article With technology, it’s easier than ever to connect with others and people are just a click or call away. Nobody knows that better than scammers — who might try to contact you about a supposed virus or malware they’ve “found” on your device. So, during this Older Americans Month, remember —... Full Article
5 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information Online DirectLink Community Class By Conner Williams Mar 31, 2022 | posted by Jason Nugent #community class #scams Thursday, March 31 at 10AM and 7PM Scammers are getting smarter. New computer technology and software make it easier to crack passwords. Companies constantly face the threat of data breaches exposing the personal information of their customers and employees. As more and more of our daily... Full Article
What are people reporting at DoNotCall.gov? By Amy Hebert, Federal Trade Commission Jan 4, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #ftc-article #scams In the past 18 years of the National Do Not Call Registry , those of you signed up for the registry (244 million phone numbers right now) have reported millions upon millions of unwanted sales calls over the years. Here’s a quick look at what you’ve reported this year at DoNotCall.gov about the... Full Article
The Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it By Alvaro Puig Dec 27, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #ftc-article #scams It’s Cyber Security Awareness month, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds. If there’s one constant among scammers, it’s that they’re always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. Have you heard about it? Here’s how it works.... Full Article
Scammers are tricking more people into buying gift cards By Cristina Miranda, Federal Trade Commission Dec 21, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #ftc-article #scams According to the newest Data Spotlight , 40,000 people reported losing a whopping $148 million in gift cards to scammers during the first nine months of 2021. Those are staggering numbers that have increased each year for the past several years. Since 2018, gift cards have been the most... Full Article
’Tis the season for student loan scam calls By Emily Wu Dec 15, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article If you have a federal student loan, you probably already know that the Coronavirus emergency relief program that has paused your payments is ending. Repayments will begin again after January 31, 2022. Scammers know it, too, and are looking for ways to take advantage: they’re calling, texting,... Full Article
Child Tax Credit scammers are still reaching out By Emily Wu Dec 8, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article Many people have gotten their advance Child Tax Credit payments this year, but scammers are taking advantage of this new program to try to trick you out of money or information. They’re pretending to be the IRS, contacting people by phone, text, email, and social media — and sending people to... Full Article
Looking for a new job? Watch out for scams By Ari Lazarus, Federal Trade Commission Nov 30, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #ftc-article #scams As we wrap up National Caregiver Month, the FTC wants to recognize all the incredible work that caregivers like you do every day. The work is seen and unseen and helps people in both physical and emotional ways. We know caregiving can be tough on your finances, too. So if you’re looking for a... Full Article
Amazon impersonators: what you need to know By Maria Mayo Oct 28, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #scams Has Amazon contacted you to confirm a recent purchase you didn’t make or to tell you that your account has been hacked? According to the FTC’s new Data Spotlight , since July 2020, about one in three people who have reported a business impersonator scam say the scammer pretended to be Amazon.... Full Article
Watch out for charity scams By Rosario Méndez Oct 28, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #scams Every year, charity regulators from around the word get together to raise awareness about charity fraud. The FTC joins this effort again this year because it’s so important to know how to spot a charity scam. The more you know, the less likely you’ll donate to a bogus charity. Better yet, you’ll... Full Article
Keeping older adults safe from scams By Bridget Small Oct 28, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #scams As last week's annual report to Congress makes clear, the safety of older consumers in the marketplace is a priority for the FTC. Protecting Older Consumers 2020 – 2021: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission summarizes the agency’s ongoing law enforcement efforts, new research results, and... Full Article
Spot the pandemic scam: emergency broadband program impersonators By Carly Johnson Oct 13, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams Have you seen ads on social media that offer to “help” you sign up for a government program that will give you a “free” device and internet service in exchange for money or personal information? While there is a real government program to help people connect during the pandemic, there’s no... Full Article
SCAM ALERT: Fake Email Targeting DirectLink Members' Payment Information Aug 16, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #scams #education #announcements #news #email We have received reports of an email scam targeting DirectLink members that seeks to gain access to sensitive payment information. If you receive an email that looks like the image above, do not click on any of the links in the message – this is a scam email. The fake email claims that... Full Article
Don't Send Them The Money Just Yet - Family Emergency Scams On The Rise By Lisa Lake Jun 17, 2021 | posted by Charlie Mouy #scams #ftc-article Instead of telling you a ghost story around a summer campfire, we have an all-too familiar tale to share: Myra’s grandson, Jon, is in Mexico for the summer. They video chat every week. One day, Myra gets a call from someone who says he’s Max, a friend of Jon’s: “He was arrested last night and... Full Article
Scammers Pretend to be from Fraud Departments By Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press Jun 3, 2021 | posted by Charlie Mouy #scams #email Recently, there has been a spike from scammers pretending to represent Fraud Departments of well-known organizations such as Chase, the Social Security Administration and Amazon to name a few. There are many variations of the scam, but it might start out as an email or text with a warning... Full Article
'Suspicious Activity' Surge, As Scammers Impersonate Amazon Phone scammers claim to be from Amazon By Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press Jun 3, 2021 | posted by Charlie Mouy #scams #tips Amazon scam calls have surged significantly over the past few months. Consumers are now regularly receiving anywhere between  100 million and 150 million  robocalls per month from fraudsters claiming to be with Amazon, according to YouMail, which has a robocall blocking app.  Some of those... Full Article
Hang up on auto warranty robocalls By Emily Wu May 20, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article #tips Have you gotten a recorded phone message from “Susie” with the “Vehicle Service Department” calling about your vehicle warranty? That’s, like, so retro. But fanny packs, scrunchies, and tie dye are back — and so are vehicle warranty robocalls. It starts when you pick up a call and hear a... Full Article
Stay Safe from Scammers. Visit the new DirectLink Scam Prevention Page May 18, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #scams #company information Have you ever received a text message or an email that looks or feels a little suspicious? Maybe it came from an odd email or number you don’t know, or there are several misspelled words throughout. And why does a prince halfway across the globe want to give you his $100 million inheritance... Full Article
Unwanted calls: Just block ’em and report ’em FTC Consumer Information May 13, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article Unwanted calls are annoying. They can feel like a constant interruption — and many are from scammers. Unfortunately, technology makes it easy for scammers to make millions of calls a day. So this week, as part of Older Americans Month, we’re talking about how to block unwanted calls — for... Full Article
When it’s Not Really the Government Calling By Emily Wu Mar 19, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article Lots of people are having trouble sleeping, thanks to the pandemic and all the parts of our lives it’s affecting. And it doesn’t help when you get a call saying you owe the government money. Oh, and, they add, you’ll go to jail if you don’t pay up immediately. That’s a scam, and nothing to lose... Full Article
Fake Price Offers Don't Pay By Bridget Small Mar 12, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #ftc-article The pandemic has caused financial distress because of lost jobs, income, and homes, and emotional distress because of social isolation. This week, during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), we want your help to reach people who might be a bit cut off from their social network. The FTC... Full Article
EMAIL SCAM ALERT Fake Email to Expose Member Information By Conner Williams Feb 9, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #email We have received reports of an email scam targeting DirectLink members that seeks to gain access to sensitive email login information. If you receive an email that looks like the image below,  do not click on any of the links in the message – this is a scam email. The screenshot below shows in... Full Article
SCAM ALERT: Fake Email to Expose Member Payment and Password Information Jan 4, 2021 | posted by Jason Nugent #scams #email #announcements We have received reports of an email scam targeting DirectLink members that seeks to gain access to sensitive payment information. If you receive an email that looks like the image below, do not click on any of the links in the message – this is a scam email.  The fake email... Full Article
Fake Calls from Apple and Amazon Dec 4, 2020 | posted by Jason Nugent #news #scams We are receiving reports from members about fake calls from Apple and Amazon trying to scam them. The FTC has an article out describing these scams and providing information on what you should do. For the most part, just hang up and ignore, but view the article from the FTC here for more... Full Article
Be aware of scam email posing as DirectLink By Conner Williams May 13, 2019 | posted by Conner Williams #scams #news #email Several of our members have made us aware of a scam email message from a sender posing as DirectLink.    The sender name appears as “DirectLink”, but the email address does not match any of our company addresses that we use to communicate with members. The message asks the recipient to... Full Article
Be on the lookout for the "one ring" phone scam By Conner Williams May 7, 2019 | posted by Conner Williams #scams #news Be on the lookout for the latest robocall scam that rings once and aims to get people to call the number back. It spoofs caller ID and looks like it's coming from a nearby number, but actually originates outside of the United States, creating the possibility of excessive long distance charges.... Full Article
Internet Security 101 DirectLink Community Class By Gene de Vore May 23, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #community class #scams #video Welcome to DirectLink's second Community Class of 2018!  In the ever-evolving online world, it can sometimes be tough to know what content is safe and what can put your identity at risk. Data Operations Manager Gene de Vore takes us through some best practices for browsing the... Full Article
SCAM ALERT! By Jason Nugent Feb 15, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #news #scams There is a new scam email floating around, and the scammer is attempting to masquerade as DirectLink (or Web-Ster in the example below) in order to gain the confidence of potential victims. DO NOT CLICK on any links within the email or reply to it. Our engineering team is already working on a... Full Article