Archives - Scam Alert


Cybersecurity and July 4th: How to avoid travel scams, public Wi‑Fi risks, and phishing over the holiday weekend

July 4th is a time for road trips, cookouts, fireworks, and quick online bookings—but it also creates the kind of rushed, distracted moments scammers love. Federal agencies warn that travel, public Wi‑Fi, fake invitations, and oversharing on social media can all raise your cybersecurity risk when you’re away from home. The threat is not hypothetical. […]

Why are scam calls using your area code? How to spot neighbor spoofing before you answer

If a call comes in with your area code — or even the same first six digits as your own number — it’s easy to assume it might be local, urgent, or worth answering. That’s exactly what scammers want. The FTC calls this trick “neighbor spoofing,” a tactic where scammers fake caller ID to make […]

How to use Do Not Disturb to block scam calls before they reach you

Scam calls work because they catch you in the moment. Your phone rings, the number looks familiar, and the caller sounds urgent. Before you know it, you’re answering questions, confirming details, or listening to a fake warning about your bank account, package delivery, computer, or taxes. One simple way to lower that risk is to […]

Don’t give away information a caller should already have — how to spot phone impersonation scams

If your bank calls you, they already know your account number. If your insurance company calls, they already have your policy details on file. So why would they ask you to verify that information over the phone? The short answer: they wouldn’t. If a caller is asking you for details they should already have, you’re […]

How the “fake refund” tech support scam works and how to protect yourself

Imagine getting a call or email from what appears to be a tech support company offering you a refund for services you previously paid for. Sounds like a nice surprise, right? Don’t fall for it. The “fake refund” scam is one of the most devious tricks in a cybercriminal’s playbook—and it’s costing victims billions. How […]

What to ask before giving out your Social Security number to protect yourself from identity theft

Your Social Security number is the master key to your identity. It unlocks access to your credit, bank accounts, tax filings, medical records, and more. So why do so many organizations ask for it so casually—and why do so many of us hand it over without a second thought? Here’s the truth: most of the […]