• Protect yourself from Text Message Scams

    From Allen Prunty@1:2320/100 to All on Wed Mar 22 02:51:52 2017
    Here are some additional tips to help you protect yourself from text message scams:

    Just hit delete! Ignore instructions to confirm your phone number or
    visit a link. Some scam texts instruct you to text "STOP" or "NO" to prevent future texts. But this is a common ploy by scammers to confirm they have a real, active phone number.

    Read your phone bill: Check your phone bill for services you haven't ordered. Some charges may appear only once, but others might be monthly "subscriptions."

    Check accounts frequently: You should check any account that contains
    your personal information on a consistent basis. That way you can spot any potential fraud before it causes serious damage.

    Know your rights: Real commercial text messages must provide a free, easy way for you to opt out of future communication. Learn more here.

    Know how to combat spam texts:In Canada, an anti-spam law covers text messages. Learn more about reporting and fighting spam here. In the U.S., forward the texts to 7726 (SPAM on most keypads), but don't click any links. This will alert your cell phone carrier to block future texts from those numbers.

    Watch out for look-alike URLs: Just because a URL has the name of a real company in it, doesn't mean it's legitimate. Anyone can register a sub-domain (realcompany.website.com) or similar URL (realcompany1234.com).

    Ask your phone carrier about blocking third-party charges: Mobile phone carriers permit outside businesses to place charges on your phone bill, but many carriers also allow you to block these charges for free.

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