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--- blog:2021-03-19:the_anatomy_of_a_scam [2021/03/19 14:43] – created va7fi
+++ blog:2021-03-19:the_anatomy_of_a_scam [2021/03/19 14:47] (current) – va7fi
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+====== The Anatomy of a Scam ======
+This is not ham radio related, but I thought it might be a good public service announcement non-the-less...
+I just watched this 23-minute long video detailing the anatomy of a scam and why they work so well.  Oh and the glitterbomb stuff is pretty cool too!
+{{ youtube>VrKW58MS12g }}
+In a nutshell here's why these scams are so effective:
+<WRAP center round box 80%>
+  - They hook you in by telling you that //they// owe you money.
+  - They have a very effective way of making you believe that they refunded you too much (10 or 100 times more) and that it was //your// mistake because you typed too many zeros.
+  - So now you feel guilty and will go the distance to pay them back the difference.
+</WRAP>
+===== Tips to Not Get Scammed  =====
+I often receive text messages or emails from "Fido" telling me that they owe me a refund.  The link posted kind of looks like Fido but not quite.  So what to do?  <wrap hi>Don't click on the link.</wrap>  Instead:
+  * Go to the official website and login to your account to see if there's anything unusual.  Most accounts will even have a "message" place where they post their official communications.
+  * If your account looks normal, delete the message; it's a scam.
+If the message instead gives a phone number, <wrap hi>do not call it.</wrap>  Instead:
+  * Independently look up the number from whatever institution it's supposed to be from and call that number instead.
+Now, I don't even bother with the weekly Fido texts I receive, but last week, I got an email from Telus saying I had a lot of points to redeem.  I didn't click on the link, which looked legit.  Instead, I logged into my account and lo and behold: I managed to apply a $50 credit to my next bill and redeem a $25 Amazon gift card.  Sweet!
+Any other tips?  Leave them in the comments below...