FRAUD & SCAM Advisory: 11.01.2023

FRAUD & SCAM Advisory: 11.01.2023

Taking a break from our various threads, today please allow me to re-share our FRAUD & SCAM Advisory: 11.01.2023.  Acknowledging that I culled and consolidated the following information from various technology and banking sources.  One of the most common and popular activities these days are web-based transactions.  This is NOT a marketing stunt but I'm mentioning McAfee WebAdvisor as one of the popular tools to check the legitimacy of an online store and this offers free download📗📘📙

Bottom line is, NEVER initiate a web-based online transaction NOT UNTIL you have confirmed the legitimacy of the website.  Coming close to the heels of the risks and uncertainty of online stores and websites is the legitimacy of a company.  Even in the United States where technology is at the forefront, one in ten U.S. adults will fall victim to a FRAUD or SCAM every year💴💷💵

To protect yourself, re-sharing these TIPS:

1. Ensure the URL bar is secured via 'https'  
2. Check the CONTACT US page.  Validate it.
3. Review the company's social media presence
4. Double check domain names like 'Yah00.com'
5. Watch out for grammar & typos, that's a no-no
6. Verify the site's WEBSITE PRIVACY POLICY.
7. Run a scan for virus, phishing and malware
8. Validate the site with the Google Safe Browser Transparency Report and it's free @ https://transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search  
9. Lastly, WALK AWAY if it's too good to be true

For those using either of these browsers [Internet Explorer 11.0 or later, Chromium-based Microsoft Edge, Windows 10 Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox OR Google Chrome], the free download of McAfee WebAdvisor works fine with these browsers

TIPs to check if a company is genuine:

1. Do a GOOGLE SEARCH.  Look into the customer review and feedback pages will tell on a company's TRUSTWORTHINESS
2. Check the company website.  Look for RED FLAGS [e.g. doubtful contact info]
3. Check the company's legal webpage.  Every legit company has a LEGAL PAGE
4. Check for SECURE modes of payment
5. If feasible, visit the company address