Massive Waste of Time

We a get them everyday.  The opportunity of a lifetime.  Since your D&B rating has recently increased, we are please to announce that you can borrow a ridiculous amount of money at a low interest.  This blogger has never responded but I am sure the pitch continues something like this.  “Send us your banking information so we can deposit the funds.”  Yea, right!  Then we will do our best to drain your account.

Some are Easy, but More and More they are Not

The bad old  days of getting notice that you are the recipiant of millions of dollars from some never known relative who died in an African car accident are fading.  However, they are being replace with much more sophisticated approaches to grand thief.  Some of which seem to be working.

So What Can One Do?

First and foremost, NO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE ‘CLICK’ ON A LINK OR ATTACHEMENT OF ANY KIND–PERIOD!!  If you do, they have you.  Secondly, does it make any sense?  My company typically gets 4-10 unsolicited loan opportunities, daily.  Well my organization has had a real banking relationship for almost two decades.  Why would I need huge sums of money from an unsolicited Internet text or email?  Nor do I answer unsolicited phone calls and if I inadvisably pick up one, I do not respond but just hang up.  Rude?  Na, they are trying in steal my money.  Do you apologize to a guy mugging you?

I have not yet set the phone to not answer numbers not in  my contact list, but I am close.  Unfortunately, some actual add value firms such as Healthcare Providers still depend on telephonic communications but hopefully that will change soon.

For Your Convenience

Every vendor we buy from wants to keep your credit card information in thier ‘secure’ wallet.  Not to worry, this makes it easier to buy from us next time.  NEVER ALLOW THIS.  Companies are hacked all the time and personal information and credit card numbers are taken.  Why take the chance, it only take a few seconds to type the number in each time.  That said, one reputable vendor I used stated that they would keep the card number on file,  I contacted them and told them, I did not want this.  their response, “We don’t save cards.”  No credibility, and there is not much I can do with the liars but stop buying from them.  Hey, they got the information they wanted but no future revenue from this consumer.  Their CRM system should be so proud.

Be a Knowledgeable Buyer

This writer lives in Houston, Txxas, a large city with a crime problem.  I take appropriate steps to assure my safety and that of my significant other.  We all  take similar steps based on our locale and relative safety.

Moreover, based on the current reputation which is similar to that of the 1970s, we no longer go to New York City to see the plays.  Their lost tourist spending.  Take the same precautions with your online life as you do with your physical life.  Both are equally important to your ‘Quality of Life.”

Forget the term ‘scam’ it denotes too soft behavior.  These are criminals who would kill you over your wallet on the streets.  Same NDA.

In a future Blog, we will discuss how this same crowd is after your children.

What are you doing to protect your family from online criminals?