No, it's not. Apple doesn't call people, and neither do Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, the Tooth Fairy, or Tito Vellasco (but he will send a card). Scams are as hot and heavy this summer as the weather. Bad analogy? Sure. Hard fact? Yes! And it's not just the fake phone calls. Late bill alerts from software you never purchased and spoofed emails from Cox, Verizon, and the banks are flooding inboxes all over the country. It's bad, and falling for one of these schemes can range from a minor inconvenience to a major impact to your finances. So, how do you protect yourself:
Trust No One: Mulder and Scully got it right. We want to be friendly, open people. We want to trust that we are all in this together, and in the end, high ideals will prevail. It makes a great Hallmark card, but the reality is there is a great number of people who only look out for themselves. They want your money, and an easy way to get it. Don't let them in. You are in control. Let the phone roll to voicemail, hang up on the obvious scammer, and delete that fake email.
Monitor Your Accounts: The best way to detect a fake purchase is to log in and check your orders, but not from the links in the email. If you get a fake call from Amazon that you spent 3.2 trillion dollars on knock-off Telletubie costumes, hang up, log into your Amazon account and check your purchases. Remember you can cancel an order or open a dispute with your credit card company. Check for yourself. Again, trust no one.
These two simple steps can go a long way to alleviate stress, protect you from these scams, and put you back in control. They want your stuff. Don't make it easy for them.
