GREENSBORO, N.C. — We're mid-way through the first month of 2024 by now you may have already quit a few New Year's resolutions so you have room for a few more! The Better Business Bureau has five resolutions for a fraud-free New Year. Here they are:
• Be cautious with emails.
• Never send money to strangers.
• Do research before making online payments and purchases.
• Use your best judgment when sharing your personal information.
• Be social media smart.
The BBB is also warning about the viral "look who died" phishing scam. The BBB said scammers know that posts about sudden deaths generate high levels of emotions like shock, empathy, and curiosity. Experts said scammers use this to manipulate you into letting your guard down so you're not thinking this could be a scam. It makes you more likely to click the link than normal.
What if you clicked a malware link? This is what you should do.
• Immediately change the password yourself
• Log out of any locations, devices, or apps you don’t recognize
• Check the email addresses linked to your account
• Turn on two-factor authentication
No matter where you look these days you see ads for weight loss products. But along with the products come misleading ads and subscription traps. These scam ads start with promises that are simply too good to be true. They include amazing before and after photos and claim to be featured on TV shows. Here's how the BBB says you can avoid these scams:
• Avoid products that claim to help you lose weight without diet and exercise.
• Don't trust endorsements
• Be very skeptical of free trial offers. Make sure you're not secretly subscribing to a month's supply by reading the terms and conditions buried somewhere on the page.
• Check out the ingredients.
According to the BBB, 26 billion records have been leaked online. They encourage you to check to see if your email and passwords have been compromised. There are two different websites they recommend to check to see if your information has been compromised.
• cybernews.com/personal-data-leak-check to check your email and phone number
• haveibeenpwned.com to check your email and password