6 common cyber scams from Aflac

 Cyber scammers are cold-hearted. They will go after you, your kids and your parents. Protect yourself and your family by not sharing personal information online, being suspicious of anyone online who asks for information or money, and being aware of these six scams that often target seniors and anyone unknowing or unwary.

1.      Funeral scams. Criminals use a time of emotional vulnerability to pressure and deceive people, sometimes posing as funeral home workers and threatening to cancel a funeral unless they’re paid quickly. What to do: Resist the urge to act quickly. Contact the funeral home directly.

2.      Internet, email and text scams. Everything from the Nigerian Prince scam (phishing) to the Microsoft Support scam (pop-ups on your computer screen) fall into this category. What to do: Watch for odd phrasing, typos, and spelling and grammar mistakes because they often indicate you’re dealing with a scam, be aware that artificial intelligence will soon hone messages to be error free. 

3.      Check fraud, check scams and sweepstakes scams. This type of fraud usually involves someone sending a payment with instructions to deposit and return any “overpayment.” The trick is that the check is fraudulent and will bounce after you send the “overpayment” to the criminal. It sounds easy to detect, but there’s usually a creative story about the overpayment that might sound plausible. What to do: See the FTC’s recommendations.

4.      Government imposter scams. A criminal impersonates a government worker, typically from the FTC, IRS, FEMA or Social Security Administration. The ploy involves the victim providing personal information so that they don’t miss out on a specific benefit, like a Social Security check. What to do: See the FTC’s advice on how to avoid these criminals.

5.      Romance scams. Criminals use fake online profiles to “meet” people, win their trust and affection, and then ask them for money, which victims willingly provide when they believe they’re helping their romantic partner. What to do: Check out the FBI’s list of ways to protect yourself.

6.      Technical support scams. Scammers convince victims their computer has a problem that they need help to fix. What to do: Make sure your computer has the latest security and operating system updates. If you have a problem, seek assistance directly from the manufacturer or contact someone local with a good reputation. The FTC has additional recommendations.