Security & Viruses

Spot utility shutoff scams from electric gas and water company impersonators, including urgent phone text and email threats of same-day power heat gas or water disconnection, prepaid debit card gift card cryptocurrency payment app and personal account demands, knowing real shutoffs require written notices over time, caller ID spoofing, refusing pressure before checking accounts, fake pay-now links, hanging up and checking utility balances through official apps websites or bill phone numbers, contacting gift card prepaid debit card banks and card issuers after payment, reporting to utility fraud lines and FTC, saving official customer service numbers from real bills, and recognizing scam increases during heat waves and cold snaps.

Spot Venmo and Cash App scams on iPhone and Android, including overpayment scams wrong-number payments fake marketplace deals friends-and-family stranger requests fake customer support texts calls and links, understanding instant transfers and limited reversals, avoiding sending money back from unknown payments, knowing stolen cards and disputed bank transfers can reverse original payments, reporting Venmo payments and Cash App payment issues inside the app, contacting official support only, asking banks or card issuers about linked-card disputes, filing FTC reports, understanding authorized versus unauthorized transfer rules, paying only people you know personally, never sending money to verify or fix accounts, using buyer-protection platforms or local cash, setting Venmo payments to Private, limiting public Cash App tags, and enabling PIN or biometric app locks.

Recognize tech support refund scams involving antivirus software subscriptions popups phone calls remote access screen sharing and online banking, including unsolicited refund calls, refusing AnyDesk TeamViewer Quick Assist and similar tools, never logging into banking while someone watches, spotting fake overpayment and typo tricks, avoiding gift cards wire transfers cryptocurrency Zelle and payment apps, recognizing urgency and guilt pressure, disconnecting from internet after remote access, uninstalling remote access apps, calling banks from card numbers, changing banking passwords from another device, enabling two-factor authentication, contacting gift card wire and crypto providers, reporting to FTC and IC3, and understanding manipulated screens are not proof money moved.

Stop grandparent and family emergency scams involving frantic calls texts relatives grandchildren accidents arrests overseas emergencies bail money secrecy and urgent payments, including not confirming names first, hanging up and calling saved numbers, checking with other relatives, asking private questions not found online, recognizing secrecy and payment pressure, avoiding gift cards wire transfers cryptocurrency courier cash pickups and fake second callers posing as police lawyers or bail bondsmen, contacting banks gift card issuers and wire services after payment, filing police FTC and IC3 reports, warning family, avoiding self-blame, recognizing AI-cloned voices, setting family safe words, and reporting fake calls even without payment.

Handle a cloned Facebook profile, including understanding that profile cloning is usually a separate fake account rather than a hacked real account, checking your real login posts messages and activity, searching for duplicate profiles using your name photo cover photo and friends list, asking friends for profile links or screenshots, identifying friend requests money requests gift card scams fake giveaways and malicious links, reporting fake profiles through Facebook Find support or report profile Pretending to be someone, warning friends publicly and directly, setting friends lists and photos to Friends only, using profile picture guard where available, and checking duplicate friend requests before accepting.

Report and stop Instagram impersonation accounts, including recognizing copied names photos usernames followers and reposted content, understanding impersonation is usually a separate fake account not a hacked real account, checking your real account login posts followers and DMs, searching for similar usernames with extra numbers or underscores, comparing follower counts and post dates, noting DMs fake giveaways money requests and scam links, reporting through Instagram Report account It is pretending to be someone else, uploading photo ID if prompted, warning followers and close contacts, making profiles private, using Meta Verified or blue checkmarks where appropriate, and posting that you never DM for money personal info or links.

Protect against SIM swap scams on Verizon AT&T T-Mobile and smaller U.S. carriers, including sudden total loss of cell service calls texts and data, password reset two-factor and new-device alerts, calling the carrier from another phone, locking the mobile account, changing email bank and important account passwords from a secure device, checking transactions, setting carrier account PINs port-out PINs and passcodes, asking for in-person ID or callback verification for SIM changes, replacing SMS two-factor with authenticator apps or security keys, limiting public personal information, freezing credit, and understanding why SMS codes fail once attackers control the phone number.

Recognize Social Security scam calls texts voicemails and emails, including claims that Social Security numbers are suspended blocked frozen linked to crimes drug trafficking or money laundering, threats of arrest benefit loss police visits and urgent action, knowing the SSA cannot suspend a Social Security number, avoiding gift cards wire transfer cryptocurrency mailed cash and unsolicited requests for full SSNs, understanding spoofed caller ID, hanging up without pressing numbers, checking my Social Security accounts at ssa.gov, calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213, reporting to SSA OIG and FTC, blocking numbers, recognizing benefits suspension and COLA increase phishing links, fake arrest warrant escalations, helping retirees, changing passwords, monitoring statements, and freezing credit after exposure.

Respond to remote access scams on Windows PCs and Macs, including popups fake Microsoft Apple bank tech support and customer service calls, AnyDesk TeamViewer LogMeIn Windows Quick Assist and similar tools, disconnecting from Wi-Fi or ethernet immediately, hanging up despite pressure, uninstalling remote access software, scanning with Windows Security or reputable Mac scanners, changing passwords from a different device after watched logins, checking banking email and shopping accounts, calling banks from card numbers, disputing gift card wire card and refund scams, freezing credit after document or Social Security exposure, reporting to FTC and tech support scam categories, recognizing fake virus popups, avoiding unsolicited remote access requests, and watching genuine support sessions.

Spot reverse mortgage scams and foreclosure rescue schemes for U.S. homeowners 62 and older, including Home Equity Conversion Mortgage HECM basics, mandatory HUD-approved counseling, finding counselors independently through HUD, avoiding rushed unsolicited offers investment pitches free repair tie-ins deed transfer title changes and ownership transfers, avoiding equity-draining investments and upfront foreclosure rescue fees, contacting loan servicers and HUD-approved housing counselors, reading documents and refusing blanks, using three-business-day right of rescission after most reverse mortgage closings, getting paperwork reviewed by HUD counselors elder-law attorneys or trusted family, contacting state attorneys general for deed transfer forged signature or fraud concerns, reporting to CFPB and FTC, and understanding equity fees insurance taxes homeowners insurance maintenance and foreclosure risks.