Scammers have taken a new approach that has left me baffled. These phone scammers, who previously relied on robocalls, are now resorting to email scams. Despite efforts by the US government to crackdown on robocalls, they appear to be finding ways to continue their activities.
Like many others, I receive spam emails on a daily basis, and there seems to be a common theme among them. They all contain attachments claiming to be invoices confirming the successful renewal of a subscription worth hundreds of dollars. The screenshot I’m sharing as an example shows an alleged recurring annual subscription for a Best Buy Geek Squad membership costing $417 per year. However, I want to clarify that this specific scam has nothing to do with Best Buy.
Several friends and family members have contacted me, concerned that they may have fallen victim to a hacking attempt. In one of the invoices I received yesterday, it stated that my personal Geek Squad membership was about to expire and that the payment would be debited automatically. This led me to worry if these scammers had my credit card information. The message also mentioned that the withdrawal amount would appear on my financial statement within 24 hours. I panicked and wondered what steps I should take. Interestingly, they kindly provided a customer service number for cancellation purposes.
Amidst the confusion, I considered calling the number immediately. And this is where it gets intriguing. The scammers have found a way to reverse the situation. Instead of them calling you, you end up calling them. Their aim is to lure you into communicating with them because once you’ve fallen for their fake invoice, they have a higher chance of scamming you when you reach out to them.
They are adept at concocting stories that could convince you to share personal information, enabling them to steal your money. They might ask you to verify your bank account or credit card number to establish your identity. Moreover, I have also received bogus invoices informing me that my PayPal account would be charged. If I called to cancel, they would likely ask for my PayPal login credentials under the pretense of processing the cancellation.
I’d like to inform everyone that these invoices are simply phishing attempts aimed at tricking you into speaking with a scammer. You can safely disregard them. However, it’s always wise to monitor your credit card and bank accounts meticulously in case of any fraudulent charges. Just remember not to make the scammer’s job easier by contacting them.
– Tribune News Service
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
