Latest news with #WTTV
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Scammers pulling double-whammy credit card schemes
WXIN/WTTV – Like the old saying goes: fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. And that's exactly what some scammers are trying to do with fake websites designed to steal not one but at least two of your credit cards. Not only is A.I. making it easier for criminals to make websites that look like legitimate shopping sites, according to Scamicide, it's making it easier for them to get even greedier. Crooks who make copycat websites often try to get victims to enter credit card information, thinking they're making a purchase. When the victim enters the card information, thinking they're buying something, the scammer simply keeps the information and starts making purchases of their own or sells the info to someone else. However, one card isn't enough for some bad guys, according to Scamicide. In some cases, when you try to use your credit card, the site might say it was declined and you need to try another card. If you do, you've now turned over two credit cards to the bad guys. Experts point out that even if a website comes up high in an internet search, the scammers may have paid for that high position or tricked the search engine into pushing it toward the top. Scamicide says if you plan to make a purchase on a website, make sure the web address starts with https. The 's' is important because it means your communication on the site is encrypted and most copycat sites aren't. Also, if the domain name doesn't seem at all related to the company name, that's a sign of a possible fake. There are also several websites where you can enter a web address and see if it checks out as legitimate or not. Google Safe Browsing Transparency Report allows you to type in the web address and see if Google thinks it's a scam. You can also use a site called Whois to see who owns a particular website and how long it's been registered online. If you think you're shopping on a popular website like Amazon or Best Buy, but the search shows the site has only been around for four months and it's owned by someone in India, it's a fake site. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mail theft and check fraud continue to increase
WXIN/WTTV – While most Americans have moved on from writing checks and dropping them in the mailbox on a regular basis, the U.S. Treasury Department said check fraud has increased 356% since the COVID-19 pandemic, costing Americans a billion dollars a year. The FBI and other agencies have consistently warned about increases in mail theft over the last several years. The thefts often lead to check fraud. With modern technology, it's not difficult for a crook to steal a check from an envelope in your mailbox, use a simple bleach to wash off the payee and amount and write it out to themselves for whatever amount they want. To guard against this, Scamicide says it's a good idea to avoid using a ballpoint pen and go with a gel pen instead. That's because the ink is much more difficult to wash off using chemicals. However, more tech savvy criminals can also scan your check and use software to change the writing on it. Gel pens won't help against that. This is why it's important to check your bank statement frequently. As opposed to a scam where a victim gets tricked into giving someone their money, this kind of fraud is outright theft. Banks are much more likely to reimburse the stolen money as long as it's reported within 30 days. After that, the bank isn't required to. Obviously, the surest way to protect against check fraud is to use electronic transactions for paying bills and exchanging money. Of course, crooks are always looking for ways to target us there, too. That's why you should make sure your passwords and online accounts are more secure than your mailbox. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Survey ranks Indiana No. 2 for ‘phishing' victims
WXIN/WTTV — A new survey ranks Indiana number two in the nation for phishing scam victims. Fullstack Academy, which is like a training bootcamp for IT careers, surveyed people in all 50 states about their experiences with phishing scams. The results show 40% of Hoosiers say they've been a victim, the second-highest rate in the nation. The survey also shows 69% of Hoosiers say they are not very confident they can spot a phishing scam. Phishing scams involve someone who impersonates a real company, organization or individual to get you to give up sensitive information, often by having you click a link that takes you to a malicious website. While the attacks have evolved to include text messaging, social media and A.I., your email inbox is still the most popular 'phishing hole' for the bad guys. The survey also revealed the most common lures used by phishing scammers. In 25 states, including Indiana, fake package delays and delivery issues are the most common ways scammers get people to click on dangerous links. That likely explains why Amazon, the U.S. Postal Service, and UPS are the names scammers impersonate the most, followed closely by PayPal and FedEx. Although Gen-Z is becoming a more popular target for some scams, Gen-X is still receiving the most phishing emails. More than half of Gen-Xers report getting a phishing attack either weekly or daily. These days, experts say it's hardly safe to trust any unsolicited email or text message you receive, even if it appears to come from a company you do business with. Instead of clicking a link or calling a number in one of those messages, go to the company's website or look up their phone number on your own to check on whatever issue the message was about. That way, you know exactly who you're dealing with. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Is it the Census Bureau or a scam?
WXIN/WTTV — With all the scams, hacks and other schemes going around these days, it can be hard to tell if you're being contacted by a con man or a legitimate organization. This is often the case with the U.S. Census Bureau. While the official Census only happens every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau does a smaller survey of about 3.5 million randomly chosen people every year called the American Community Survey. But how do you know it's not a scammer trying to get information about you? First of all, according to Scamicide, if your first contact about the survey is a text, email or phone call, that's a scam. The U.S. Census Bureau will always first contact you through snail mail to let you know you've been selected for the survey. That letter should also include instructions on how to do the survey online or on paper. If you choose to do the survey online, and you don't complete it within three weeks, you should get a paper survey in the mail. It's possible you might get a phone call about the survey later, but that should only happen if you've completed it and the Census Bureau needs to clarify something. You can also confirm that you really have been selected my contacting your Census Bureau Regional Office at this website. In addition, the real American Community Survey will not ask for your social security number or credit card information. Those are dead giveaways that you've been contacted by a scammer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Survey shows drivers are still using phones behind the wheel
(WXIN/WTTV) — While most of us know by now about the dangers of texting, emailing and other distractions while driving, a new survey shows that many Americans are not putting their phones down. The new survey from Nationwide Insurance shows 81% of drivers are aware of texting bans where they live. However, 92% say they're seeing more phones in the hands of drivers these days. And 10% admit to reading and writing emails while driving. Phones are not the only technology causing concerns. Nearly half of drivers say they're concerned about in-vehicle touchscreens creating distractions on the road. But while technology can be part of the problem, the survey shows it can also be seen as part of the solution to distracted driving. The vast majority of those surveyed, 85%, said dash cams can encourage safe driving habits, and 94% appreciate dash cams for providing evidence in accident investigations. A.I. powered dash cams can track signs of risky behavior like phone handling and sudden lane changes. In addition, early half of respondents believe having an A.I. dash cam should qualify for lower car insurance. As for the effectiveness of laws to ban texting and driving, only 48% of those surveyed believe those laws actually curb distracted driving. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
