Tricky Scams Gain Serious Traction – Stay Alert!

Hands holding cell phone
Shiavon Chatman
April 20, 2022

There’s another scam you should watch out for! Many of us can spot an unknown phone number or a suspicious email. But this time, the scam is coming from someone familiar – yourself?

This scam sends you a link and a text message that your phone bill has been paid – and it comes from your own number!

Verizon customers were the first to receive the scam, and now AT&T customers are, too. These are the largest phone providers in the country, so this scam could affect millions of people.

When scammers use a fake number, it’s called “spoofing” – a popular method used to disguise who messages are coming from. 

Scammers can make a phone call or text message look like it came from a different number – even your own! Here’s what you should do if you receive this scam or one similar.

First, always be cautious of “free” deals or your bill being paid off by an anonymous source – nothing is ever free! 

Also, NEVER click links you don't recognize or from unknown sources. This could give scammers access to your phone’s contents and mobile banking.

 

As these scams get trickier to avoid, and as we rely more on mobile banking, we have to be diligent in protecting our finances and privacy. Share this with everyone you know – keep your money safe!

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