If it seems fishy, IT IS!
28/05/25 Filed in: scams
Several years ago I sent this exact email out to everyone. Unfortunately…I continue to work with people weekly who are falling victim to scams they accidentally come across on the internet. So let’s take a second to review the topic of being scammed.
There are many fake ads out there that appear to be very convincing. These will often tell you something is wrong with your account or a package couldn’t be delivered and that you should call them. Or they might tell you that your credit cards have been compromised and the only way to restore your security is to interact with them. None of this is real. You may be saying to yourself, “I never fall for that stuff. Who would be such a sucker?” But more and more I work with clients I consider highly intelligent who fall victim to these strategies. There are many reasons that could result in a lapse in judgement. The main reason I’ve found is panic. It’s easy to become flustered or overwhelmed in the moment if you think something may have happened to your accounts. These scammers use that sense of panic and confusion to get you to make bad decisions. Several times I’ve seen clients pay these scammers with gift cards or check routing numbers. Victims will allow the scammer to remote in to their computer and cause more havoc. 9/10 times these scams only occur because the victim unknowingly participates in it. The whole goal for the scammer is to convince you that something terrible has happened and only they can help you to fix it. It is always a lie. For example, If you see something like this pop up…
DO NOT call them. If you do, they will try very effectively to convince you they are someone they are not. They will convince you to give them financial or other information about yourself. I see people do this every day. I can’t say it loudly enough. This is a lie.
What should I do?
All you are looking at when you see a page like the one above is an ad. Just hit the escape key. It’s only a webpage and the page has gone into full screen mode. You may hear a scary voice coming from your computer. It’s just a recording on that webpage. If you just hit the escape key you can then close the window and continue with your day. You can also move the mouse to the top of the screen to reveal the green, yellow and red window buttons in the top left and just hit the red button to close the window. It is only an ad. Do not call them.
And most importantly:
In closing, if you feel you may have installed any malicious software accidentally or would just like a security checkup with all your devices, you can schedule a session directly on my website at www.sellsconsulting.com. I am available remotely seven days a week and in person on a more limited basis. Feel free to forward this information to anyone you feel may benefit. You can also visit the answers section on my site for even more ways to improve your approach to security.
Click safely,
Scotty
There are many fake ads out there that appear to be very convincing. These will often tell you something is wrong with your account or a package couldn’t be delivered and that you should call them. Or they might tell you that your credit cards have been compromised and the only way to restore your security is to interact with them. None of this is real. You may be saying to yourself, “I never fall for that stuff. Who would be such a sucker?” But more and more I work with clients I consider highly intelligent who fall victim to these strategies. There are many reasons that could result in a lapse in judgement. The main reason I’ve found is panic. It’s easy to become flustered or overwhelmed in the moment if you think something may have happened to your accounts. These scammers use that sense of panic and confusion to get you to make bad decisions. Several times I’ve seen clients pay these scammers with gift cards or check routing numbers. Victims will allow the scammer to remote in to their computer and cause more havoc. 9/10 times these scams only occur because the victim unknowingly participates in it. The whole goal for the scammer is to convince you that something terrible has happened and only they can help you to fix it. It is always a lie. For example, If you see something like this pop up…
DO NOT call them. If you do, they will try very effectively to convince you they are someone they are not. They will convince you to give them financial or other information about yourself. I see people do this every day. I can’t say it loudly enough. This is a lie.
What should I do?
All you are looking at when you see a page like the one above is an ad. Just hit the escape key. It’s only a webpage and the page has gone into full screen mode. You may hear a scary voice coming from your computer. It’s just a recording on that webpage. If you just hit the escape key you can then close the window and continue with your day. You can also move the mouse to the top of the screen to reveal the green, yellow and red window buttons in the top left and just hit the red button to close the window. It is only an ad. Do not call them.
Here are a few general rules to follow:
- Do not enter your admin password unless you have a good reason to do so.
- Do not allow someone you don’t know to remote in to your computer.
- No legitimate company allows payment of any kind via gift cards.
- Use strong passwords, not a word that can be found in the dictionary followed by numbers and a special character. If your password is Tarheels97! or Rolltide73$, you don’t have a password.
- Do not use non password protected wifi networks.
- Monitor your bank accounts and account for every small charge you see monthly. A dumb thief will try to steal a large amount all at one time but a smart thief will steal a small amount from lots of people hoping no one will notice.
And most importantly:
- Do not call a number you see on a webpage that is warning you that something bad has happened to your computer or accounts. If you are concerned, call your bank directly.
In closing, if you feel you may have installed any malicious software accidentally or would just like a security checkup with all your devices, you can schedule a session directly on my website at www.sellsconsulting.com. I am available remotely seven days a week and in person on a more limited basis. Feel free to forward this information to anyone you feel may benefit. You can also visit the answers section on my site for even more ways to improve your approach to security.
Click safely,
Scotty
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