Dealing with scams and identity theft

There are many good legitimate jobs advertised on Craigslist but be sure to look out for these warning signs of scams when responding to job ads:

Do not send personal information (Social Security number, bank account number, etc.)

Verify information in ad, keep track of who you speak to

Let someone know where you’re going, if you attend in-person interview.

Ads are the easiest way for social media scammers to make their money. They will post ads that look similar to other companies and often offer some type of service. If you click on an ad, it will take you to another page that may have the appearance of a legitimate website.

Phishing emails are becoming  harder to tell from real emails. By impersonating a company’s communications, these emails tend to use clever and compelling language, such as an urgent need for you to update your information or communicate with you for your security. To spot a phishing email, look for a combination of red flags. In this example, notice:

1. Email address: The email address of the sender does not include the domain name or it does match the 'reply to' email address.

2. Urgent call to action: The email includes an urgent request in the subject line and message copy, such as “for your protection and for security reasons.” Phishing emails may also contain extra spacing or unusual punctuation in addition to other red flags.

3. Suspicious URL: The email contains a link to a URL, which could be a fraudulent website. If you’re using a laptop or desktop computer, you can check a link’s URL by hovering over it with your cursor, and the URL will show in your browser window.

Phishing texts use similar techniques as phishing emails: a sense of urgency to secure your account or verify your identity, using words like “blocked,” “deactivated”, or “for your protection” to describe your account status. These texts may prompt you to call a phone number, click on a link, or respond directly with personal or account information. To spot a phishing text, look for a combination of red flags. In this example, notice:

1. Suspicious sender: The text was sent by an unknown phone number.

2. Unusual text treatments: The text message contains a combination of unusual text treatments, including all caps, arrows, ID numbers, and an exclamation point.

3. Unprompted request: The request to unlock a block or verify the recipient’s identity was unprompted.

You should request a fraud alert, which will have no effect on your credit score. You can also request a security freeze which will prevent credit issuers from accessing your credit files so that those trying to steal your identity cannot open new credit cards or loans

Contact any banks that you have created accounts with. You can report your identity theft to them and they will send you replacement cards with new account numbers. If you were issued a checkbook and some of your checks were stolen, you can ask the bank to stop the payment.