These callers aren’t the answer to holiday debt
If the new year brought you oldyear holiday debt, be on guard against crooks calling to help you dig out.
Since the beginning of the year, there’s been an increase in consumer complaints about debt relief offers in which callers say they can provide refinancing of credit card debt at improved interest rates and terms, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
The callers ask for credit card numbers or other personal information, and they may threaten or harass people who refuse to cooperate.
They won’t ease your debt, but they will use your credit card to make fraudulent purchases or steal your money, the FCC says.
Small businesses that use QuickBooks are getting hit with a devious email alert that’s part of a new phishing scheme.
It begins with an email carrying the subject line “QuickBooks Support: Change Request.” The message asks owners to confirm that they previously changed their business name with Intuit, the company that makes QuickBooks.
The temptation is to respond by clicking on an embedded link canceling the supposed request. Don’t do it. Taking the bait will unleash malware into your device, which will in turn allow the scammers to hunt for passwords or other personal information stored on your computer.
The Nomorobo telemarketing-blocker is now available to customers of Burner premium. The Burner app creates temporary phone numbers for those who want to protect their privacy.
The Nomorobo technology, which is free for certain landline customers, keeps a massive database of scam phone numbers and blocks calls from those numbers. The technology was expanded late last year to also serve mobile phones, at a monthly fee of $1.99.
Yahoo customers, read this.
If you see a customer service number for Yahoo posted online, it’s a fake. The search engine company does not provide technical service by phone.
The Federal Trade Commission has been getting reports of people who called the false numbers they found online, only to be charged a fee for “Yahoo customer care services.”
In fact, the real Yahoo says it offers these services for free. The help may come from “email, chat, social media, help articles, or our Yahoo Help Community forums.
“Whether you forgot your Yahoo password, can’t sign in to Yahoo Mail, or need help with another Yahoo product or service, Yahoo will NOT ask you to pay for support,” the company says.
It also will not seek to remotely connect to your computer for any support-related request, nor does it “support or endorse third-party offerings that provide customer support for a fee.”
Western Union, the worldwide money transfer service, has agreed to create a “real and strong” anti-fraud program and reimburse $586 million to consumers as part of a settlement this month with the FTC.
The company was accused of aiding wire fraud and failing to comply with antimoney laundering laws in connection with money transfers made for fraudulent lotteries and prizes, family emergency calls, advance-fee loans, online dating and other schemes.
The process for paying out the multi-million dollar reimbursement has not been determined yet, the FTC said.