Ward Parkway Plaza Neighborhood Association

Identity Theft, Scams and other criminal/unethical activity

Use Caution

It sometimes seems there’s a scam a minute out there  Here are some tips:

- Phone caller id and text message id are no longer reliable. The name and number that appear can be changed by the scammer to be any name and number (even your own!). 

Never give out personal information to any caller/text message you aren't expecting. Government agencies and reputable businesses will never ask for it over the phone in an unsolicited call or text message. 

When a pre-recorded message asks you to "press 1 for... or 2 to be removed from our list" it is as likely to not remove you from the list, but actually add you to lists of confirmed phone numbers that are sold to other scammers.  Always respond to calls or text messages by calling a number you know to be correct.

- Emails can be made to look like they are from someone you know or a business you have an account with.  The "sender's" email account doesn't even have to be hacked, the actual sender just needs to know the displayed name (usually attained from searching the web). 

Never click a link or photo in an email unless you are expecting it. They can be embedded with programming that can take over your computer; monitor everything you do on the computer; lock your computer and demand a "ransom" to get access to your computer again; or take you to a fraudulent web site to get your personal information. 

Always copy or type in the URL address into your browser for a web site rather than clicking on links in any email you receive. WPPNA will never email you a link to click on.

Sometimes email software will automatically add an email link (without the sender's knowledge) to messages sent. Another reason to not click on links.

- Web sites can be made to look like they are a business you have an account with.  Only go directly to a web site you have the correct URL for. Often you can see the actual URL you would be directed to by "mousing over" the link in an email with your cursor.

- Credit reports and credit scores are offered by many web sites. Some are legit, some charge a fee and some are scammers trying to get your personal info.  The web site set up by the three largest credit reporting agencies for free credit reports is at "www.annualcreditreport.com" .

- ATMs, gasoline pumps, restaurants and any business where you give someone your credit/debit card are susceptible to "skimming" devices that allow someone to easily and quickly record your information from the card and sell it or use it for criminal/unauthorized activity. 

If you have online accounts for these cards, set up email and/or text message alerts that notify you when suspicious or other activity specified by you occurs (such as your card number was used for an online purchase or the card was not present at the point of sale at a retail business).

Credit/debit card companies, banks, gas stations, ATM companies and businesses are starting to replace/update most point of sale devices to use credit/debit cards with an electronic chip rather than the magnetic stripe used for decades.  New radio frequency (RF) and other new technologies are also being tested and implemented.

- Hacking of business databases and personal online accounts is rapidly growing which gives criminals access to your personal and financial information.  Use strong passwords for online accounts, change passwords often and don't use the same passwords or user names for multiple accounts.

Some new technologies and processes are available that create one-time use numbers or require multiple pieces of information to authorize purchases or give access to accounts. These do slow down your access to accounts and completing purchases, but they do deter or prevent automated/unauthorized criminal access to accounts.