SeniorNet Update

IS IT A SCAM ?

Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Here is some advice from Megan, our scam and fake news tutor.

When you receive a phone call from someone you don’t know, just say, “I’m busy right now, please give me your name and number and I will ring you back as soon as I can”. If they offer to ring you back, just say “no, I will ring you back”. Most scammers will give up about that stage as they want “easy pickings”. If they don’t give up and get insistent or aggressive, just hang up.

Steve and Sarah Wood from ‘Almost Anything’ have updated us on a scam that happened to a friend last week. A caller, claiming to be from Spark, gave her full name and her Spark staff ID. She said Spark had detected insecure activities on the network and suggested their friend follow security steps to make sure she was protected. Otherwise, Spark would have no option but to disconnect her internet connection. The caller also pointed out that there was a Panasonic TV and a Veon TV as well as their friends cellphone on the same network. This made the whole situation sound legitimate. The call was then escalated to a supervisor, a man with an Indian accent. He gave a case number as such and directed their friend to use her laptop to start the procedure. Their friend was unsure if she could handle this, so said she wanted to call someone to help. The supervisor said “No no no, don’t call your friend. You can do this. I will help you and we can get this done.” She was directed to give a copy of her drivers license, a copy of her credit card and a selfie of her holding her driver’s license without her glasses. Her bank called on her cellphone while things were happening to ask her if she had just withdrawn $1999,00. She said no, but that she had just given a copy of her credit card to Spark. Unfortunately, the call was too late. The money had been taken.

No matter what a caller tells you, ask them for their phone number so you can call them back. Check to be sure the phone number does belong to the company they say they are calling from. Do not feel threatened. If in doubt, just hang up.

If you believe you have been the target of online fraud, ring your bank immediately. Once you have called the bank, call the police.

For further assistance, check out a One-on-One session at Seniornet for more in depth details in how to protect yourself, and your computer, or join one of our regular Scam/Fraud classes.

Call Sheryl at Seniornet Whitianga 021 022 62504 .

Stay Well, Stay Safe,

Ady Cole-Ewen

Chair, Seniornet Whitianga