DON’T let your bank account by emptied by crooks over the phone.
All iPhone and Android owners need to be on high alert for dangerous scam calls, a cyber-expert told The U.S. Sun.
Criminals typically make fraudulent phone calls to steal your money – or private info that can be used to defraud you.
They can come in many forms, so it’s important that you learn to spot the signs.
We spoke to Erich Kron, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, who revealed three big clues that you’re on the line with a crook.
“Phone scams can often be successful through the use of considerable amounts of pressure to do something immediately, or the victim is told they will suffer negative consequences,” Kron explained.
“A huge, but often ignored red flag, is simply the gut feeling that something is wrong, yet victims allow the attackers to pressure them into bad situations.
“It’s very common after a phone scam, for the victim to say that they knew something felt off about the call, yet they were allowed to be talked into taking whatever action the bad actors were going for.”
The second warning sign is that you’re being asked to hand over money.
Specifically, the method of money transfer may be unusual.
If you get a request like this, it should be setting off alarm bells in your mind.
“Any phone call that is requesting payment through an unusual payment means, such as gift cards or other types of digital currency, should trigger some serious red flags,” Kron warned.
“Legitimate organizations, such as phone providers, utility providers, or other entities will not be asking for iTunes gift cards or similar types of payment.”
The third and final warning sign is when the person on the other end of the phone is asking you to download something.
They may want you to download an app or software on your iPhone, Android or computer.
It may seem innocent, but it’s one of the most dangerous mistakes you can make.
These apps typically take control of your computer and allow crooks to take whatever they want from you.
“Phone calls that request remote access to your computer or ask you to download or purchase software should be an immediate red flag,” Kron advised.
“This is often done when a scammer calls to tell somebody they are with a computer or software vendor, and that a virus has been detected on their computer.
“They will try to get the victim to allow them to remotely access the computer to remove the virus, or we’ll ask them to install a special antivirus software to solve the problem.
“Inevitably giving these bad actors remote access to your computer, or installing software that is a virus itself, will lead to significant issues for the victim.”
If you’re unsure about a phone call, it’s best to simply hang up.
When a person on the phone claims to be from a company, contact the business directly using details on the official website.
That way you can verify any claims made over the phone with the legitimate company.
