Archives - Scam Alert


Look out for email extortion scams

Phishing is regularly associated with tactics such as a scammer telling someone they’ve won a prize, but it can also take the form of attempted extortion. Be wary of any email threatening to expose something about you unless you quickly submit payment. Simply delete it instead of engaging at all.

Remember phone scams? They still exist

While much of the dangers to your personal information comes through modes of modern tech, the classic phone scams are still popular amongst identity thieves and scammers. Be wary about giving out your personal information over the phone. Many businesses do legitimately use conventional phone calls to contact customers, but so do scammers. That said, […]

If making a donation online, make sure the source is legitimate

Cybercriminals are beginning to take advantage of natural disasters, relief efforts and other events that may spur a lot of charitable donations. Scammers hoping to capitalize on hurricane disaster relief, for example, might set up a false donation site to fool unwitting people. By soliciting donations in the name of a reputable cause, scammers hide […]

Be mindful of crypto scams

Cryptocurrencies have increased in popularity in recent years. Consequently, blockchains have also been the target of cybercriminals. Cryptos, like Bitcoin, use security keys to protect currency with unique corresponding sets of letters and numbers. Despite these measures, bad actors are increasingly using cryptocurrencies to steal information and collect ransom. Before purchasing a coin, make sure […]

If you receive a gift card offer, it could be a trap

A popular trend in phishing scams is the unsolicited gift card prize offer. Malicious scammers pose as legitimate companies, like Amazon or Apple, and send convincing offers to their targets. They claim the target has the chance to win a valuable gift card, but they’ll need to act now if they want to win. Clicking […]

If you find a USB device somewhere in public, don’t plug it into your computer

If you happen upon a USB device while out in public, such as a flash drive, do not take it home and plug it into your computer. There’s no telling what could be on the device, such as malware or ransomware. In some cases, scammers will leave USB devices in places so that they’re found […]