This article will give you some examples of swindles and some general precautions to take to protect yourself from scamsters. These ae only a few of the countless scams currently being used. New swindles are being created every day. Psalms 10:7 describes scamsters well and reads, “His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.”
You get a call from your grandson, and he says that he has been kidnapped. Then, the kidnapper comes on the phone and demands money for your grandchild’s release. You panic and send the amount of money demanded. You just have been swindled.
The scamster used artificial intelligence to make the plea sound as if it came in your grandson’s voice. Scamsters try to make you very emotional and in a hurry to fulfill their demands. A better response would have been to check out the demand by trying to contact your grandson.
You receive a traffic violation notice in the mail from a city you passed though recently. To verify it, contact the nonemergency number of the issuing police department to see if they, in fact, issued it.
You receive a friendship request on Facebook from a friend with whom you already are connected. If you check with your friend, you will find that a scamster, not your friend, sent it. Posing as your friend might allow the scamster to trick you in the future.
You receive an unfamiliar email or text. Do not click on it. Use your browser to check the legitimacy of it.
You receive a call from an unfamiliar number or person. Do not answer it. Let them leave a voicemail so you can take your time to evaluate the person and their message.
Below are some more ways to protect yourself:
1) Use passwords or biometrics to protect your computers, tablets, and smartphones.
2) Automatically update protective software on your electronic devices.
3) If you use public Wi-Fi, install virtual private network (VPN) on your electronic devices.
4) Freeze your credit at the Three major credit bureaus.
5) Do not save your credit card numbers online with merchants or service providers.
6) Use antivirus software and perform recommended updates on your devices.
How do you protect yourself from scamsters?
