Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: PHISHING, SMISHING, & SCAMS


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    | US Govt. | ISP | Banks | Apple, Android, Windows | Internet Sites | Protect ID | AntiVirus |

    "Juice Jacking" (FCC)


    So you are traveling. Avoid plugging your USB devices into PUBLIC USB CHARGING PORTS. "Such as those found near airport gates, in hotels and other travel-friendly locations." (FCC)

    Instead, invest in a portable charger or external battery so that you can charge your OWN devices without being dependent on a public USB charging port not being infected with the scammers' malware.


    How to Avoid Scams


  • "Am I safe, or am I being scammed?" (Bank of America)
  • Scams & Fraud (AARP Fraud Watch Network)

    Three common ways modern scammers attack


    PHISHING
  • Phishing (AARP Fraud Resource Center)
  • What Is Phishing? (Phishing.org)
    Here is an email I received in January 2022 allegedly from my large apartment complex office:

    Mon, Jan 24, 5:20 PM
    Dear Resident(s),
    We have been notified that CenterPoint Energy will be having a power outage affecting buildings 7 through 13, on January 25,2022. The outage will be between 8AM- 12PM for maintenance. No additional information has been provided to us. The office may be affected by this as well, so we thank you for your patience.

    I called CenterPoint Energy and no one there could find any record of this upcoming next-day power outage. Plus the staff told me that IF such an outage had been actually planned by CenterPoint Energy, that my apt. office would have been notified IN WRITING (received a physical letter) including the name & contact information for the CenterPoint Energy person in charge of the planned maintenance and that it would have been for ALL BUILDINGS, not just part of the complex.


    CenterPoint Energy says: "We will NOT disconnect your services without first:
    Mailing you a bill, noting your account is now overdue.
    If the balance remains unpaid, we will mail you a DISCONNECTION NOTICE, stating the approximate disconnection date and time.

  • Public Utility Scams (CenterPoint Energy)
    SMISHING
  • Smishing (AARP Fraud Center)
  • How to Guard Against Smishing Attacks on Your Phone (Wired)
  • How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages (FTC)
    PHONE
  • Phone Scams (AARP Fraud Center)
  • Robocalls (AARP Fraud Resource Center)
  • CenterPoint Energy warns of phone scam
    by [TV Channel] 14 News Staff | Updated January 15, 2021 at 10:10 CST |
  • Today I received a phone call which my smartphone Caller ID unfortunately identified as CenterPoint Energy. (It was not.)
    The robocall informed me that my address was scheduled for disconnection in 45 minutes. If I did not want to lose my electricity, I was to press 1 now to be connected to billing.
    I then reported the scam call to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker.

    Imposter Scams


  • Imposter Scams (FTC)
  • Watch Out for 'Grandparent' Scams (FCC)
  • Phone Scams (FTC)

    U.S. Government


  • Spoofing and Phishing (FBI)
  • How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams(FTC)
  • Report Phishing Sites (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, Dept. of Homeland Security)
  • How to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door (IRS)
  • Report Phishing and Online Scams(IRS)
  • Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams (Social Security) | Tips to Prevent Fraud (Medicare)

    Internet Service Providers (ISPs)


  • Xfinity
  • What is Comcast doing about spam? (Xfinity)
  • Fake Email or "Phishing" (AT&T)
  • How cybersecure are you? (AT&T)
  • Identify, report, and delete fake emails (AT&T)
  • Account Security against common scams & frauds (Verizon)

    Banks


  • Report suspicious (Bank Of America)
  • Report phishing (Chase Bank)
  • Report phishing (Wells Fargo Bank)

    Apple, Android, Windows


  • Cyber Criminals Are Increasingly Targeting iPhones and Macs. Here's How to Thwart Them. (Consumer Reports)
  • Reporting phishing & other scams (Apple)
  • Avoid and report phishing emails (Google, Gmail, Android)
  • Protect Yourself from Phishing: Windows 10 & Windows 8 (Microsoft)

    Internet Sites


  • Avoid and report phishing emails (Google, Gmail)
  • Report Suspicious Emails, Phone Calls, Text Messages, or Webpages (Amazon)
  • Fraud Alerts (Walmart)
  • Report a suspicious email or website (PayPal)
  • Reporting Security Issues (Yahoo)

    Identity Theft Prevention


  • Protect My ID (AAA and Experian)
  • Identity Theft Protection (AARP and NortonLifeLock)

    AntiVirus Computer Security


  • MalwareBytes
  • Norton
    QUICK LINKS:
  • Back to Northwoods UU Church Resource Links page
  • Back to Northwoods UU Resource Links: Elected Officials / Legislative / Supreme Court
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: ABORTION
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: CENSORSHIP
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: COVID-19
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: DEFICIT, DEBT CEILING, AND THE FEDERAL BUDGET
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: DEMOCRACY, THE BIG LIE, & SOCIAL MEDIA
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: GUN CONTROL / MASS SHOOTINGS
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: IMMIGRATION / DACA / REFUGEES
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: ISRAEL / HAMAS / GAZA
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: LGBTQ
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: PHISHING, SMISHING, & SCAMS
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: RACIAL JUSTICE
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: REDISTRICTING
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: SPACE RESOURCES (AFTER UKRAINE)
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: TEXAS LEGISLATURE
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: VOTING
  • Back to Northwoods UU Issues Resource Links: WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
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    Last Modified: 4/19/2022