How to spot fake emails, card scams, spy apps,
Fake gift cards are another favorite
Q: I got an email from Amazon that was a security alert about my account. How can you tell if it’s legit or not?
A: The fake email is a favorite of scammers trying to steal information. Major companies don’t send out emails that haven’t been checked by a team of professional writers and editors, so poor writing is a dead giveaway. They also won’t ask you to click on anything or download an attachment.
Q: I think my ex might have slipped a spying app onto my phone. How can I tell?
A: If it’s an app such as Mspy, WebWatcher or SpyToMobile, they’re designed to avoid detection. If you’re running an iPhone, check to see if there’s an app called Cydia installed. If so, that’s a sign your phone is jailbroken, which is something a lot of spy apps require to install. However, some don’t need that anymore. If you’re worried, your best option is to do a factory reset, and that will wipe out any spy app.
Q: I saw a post on Facebook offering $25 Amazon gift cards for $10. Is that for real?
A: This is a classic scam. If you bought the gift cards, they’d likely be empty, or the person you sent the money to would just disappear. If you pay with a credit card, the person then has your card information. Most likely they’d have you pay with a wire transfer so you can’t reverse the charge.