Researching scams and scam prevention, I came across the concept of the “initial bait.” Specifically, it is the lure (like the offer of a refund) or the threat that gets someone to respond to a scammer’s approach email, text or phone call. There’s a reason it’s called “phishing.” The scammers make initial approaches all day […]
A parent recently approached me and asked if I would consider writing a column to alert parents to a particularly cruel scam that directly targets teenagers, often boys. Many parents may not be aware of this scam. I was not. When I started looking into it, I learned that it’s become so widespread and so […]
The other day, someone asked an interesting question. Specifically, they wanted to know if it’s “safe” to use Venmo. As with anything online, the answer is, “It depends.” According to Yahoo Finance, “Overall, Venmo is generally a safe payment platform, but it’s crucial that you make sure you’re always sending money to the correct person/profile […]
Recently a woman told me how she nearly fell for the “Grandchild Scam.” She got a call from someone saying it was her grandson and he was in jail. She isn’t sure because it all happened so fast, but she thinks she said, “Michael, is that you?” The person replied, “Yes, Gram. Please help me!” […]
Probably everyone who spent more than a semester at Canton High would recognize the school’s bulldog mascot. (The bulldog is one of the most popular mascots in the world, apparently because they are famous for being friendly, loyal, courageous and tenacious. Hard to go wrong with characteristics like that.) Now that you’ve left Canton High […]
There’s only one reason why someone is coaching you to lie to your bank about your reason for making a significant withdrawal from your account — they are scamming you. Period. It doesn’t matter what claims, promises or threats they’ve made. Every red alarm should be blaring when someone tells you to lie to your […]
A headline in The Wall Street Journal recently caught my eye: “Selling gold is not as easy as it seems.” It turns out that super-popular big-box retailer Costco is now selling gold — specifically 1-ounce gold ingots at $2,000 each — online, not in its stores. Even with limits on how many a member can […]
Some say it’s an ugly name — the “Pig Butchering” scam. But it’s the scammers’ own description of the ugly crime they’re committing and how they view their victims. “Pig Butchering” is a new-ish COVID-era scam. It’s happening all over the country and it’s absolutely happening in metro Boston and even right here in Canton. […]
Many people have heard of the “dark web.” Most have no idea of what it is, and given the potential dangers, they aren’t inclined to go looking. According to online security company Norton 360, “The dark web is a part of the internet that’s made up of hidden sites you can’t find through conventional search […]
Late last year, the news came out that Intuit was shutting down its budgeting app, Mint. One news report said it was because most people are not much interested in managing their money — supposedly because personal money management is not “fun.” Although Mint was referred to as “beloved,” the reality was that this free […]
