ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / ECONOMY & WORK

Woman Feels ‘Violated’ After Losing $35,000 in Elaborate Phishing Scam; How to Stay Safe

Fraudsters pose as state authorities, customer executives, company executives, and more to fool people with legitimate-looking emails or messages.
PUBLISHED MAR 26, 2024
Cover Image Source: Woman loses thousands of dollars in elaborate phishing scam (representative image) | Pexels | Photo by energepic.com
Cover Image Source: Woman loses thousands of dollars in elaborate phishing scam (representative image) | Pexels | Photo by energepic.com

Phishing or spoofing scams have become a menace with Slash Next reporting a 1,265% increase in malicious phishing messages since 2022. In the scam, fraudsters pose as state authorities, customer executives, company executives, and more to fool people with legitimate-looking emails or messages. They often steal sensitive information or in the case of Connie Seddon, steal money. In a 13News report, a victim of a McAfee phishing scam, Seddon shared how these scams fool people with elaborate schemes.



 

Seddon received an email that looked like it was from McAfee computer virus protection. “I’m not a technological person but it looked all right,” she told 13News. The email said she would be billed for an upgrade and instructed users to call a number in the next 24 hours if they wish to opt out of the update. Seddon, who didn’t want the upgrade, called the phone number and she was convinced to send $20, which she was supposed to get back. However, the scammers returned saying they had just put $20,000 into her account accidentally and they needed to get the money back.

The scammers then convinced Seddon to give them access to her computer. To refund the money, Seddon withdrew cash from her bank account and sent it to the scammers through a Bitcoin machine at a gas station. Furthermore, the scammers accessed Seddon’s home equity loan account and her checking account to steal more money. By the end of it, Seddon had lost a total of $35,000 to scammers.

Seddon said the false sense of urgency engineered by the scammers by continuously calling and disconnecting, set her off. “I feel violated," Seddon said while sharing her story.  “They’re like psychologists. They know what works and what doesn’t work. They play on someone’s fears, they read people,” Brian Watson, community outreach specialist for R.O.S.E. told 13News.



 

It is advised to not share critical information such as passwords, social security numbers, or access to devices. Legitimate companies will not ask for such information.

Avoid clicking on links shared in unsolicited emails or text messages. Always look up the company’s phone number provided in the emails or messages, before calling.

Examine the email address, URL, and spelling used in any correspondence. Phishing scams have slightly different addresses and emails to trick victims. McAfee, the company has listed all the legitimate email addresses on their website to help customers spot phishing emails. Customers can also reach out to the legitimate customer service of companies to verify the email addresses before engaging with them.

Citizens are also recommended to set up two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication on all accounts that allow it to prevent transactions from happening behind their backs.



 

In case users encounter a phishing email, they are advised to forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. and phishing text messages can be forwarded to SPAM (7726). Furthermore, cases of phishing scams or such attempts can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Victims can also file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
Guests on the show would run with it if they ever got that kind of money on Pawn Stars.
7 hours ago
The guest even said to keep the kids in the dark about how valuable these items were.
9 hours ago
The company had fantastic sales but a crushing debt with a high interest rate that the sharks hated.
12 hours ago
It was only Carey's second season in the show and he could have been part of a massive scandal.
1 day ago
“I won’t say anything, and you know why,” he said, with a gesture to zip his lips.
1 day ago
The ring was rescued by the guest's mother thanks to a stranger early in the morning.
1 day ago
"She blanked out. It happens to the best of us," a fan sympathized with the player.
1 day ago
The instrument originally belonged to the guest's grandfather who suffered a horrific injury.
2 days ago
The contestant's wife seemed embarassed at that point of time, and worried as well.
2 days ago
The co-founders of Dino Don got the shark that they always wanted on board.
2 days ago
One can understand why the measure is in place but the shopper was having none of it.
2 days ago
"My husband and I definitely noticed it! We had to rewind it a few times," a fan reacted.
2 days ago
All of the sharks agreed that she had a great product and the drive to be successful a businesswoman.
3 days ago
It's possible that the dog played a little part in making it easier for them to get a deal.
3 days ago
Without the help of his wife, the contestant would have gone home empty-handed.
3 days ago
The pawn store owner had a valid point since the item the guest had brought had numerous issues.
3 days ago
The contestant got the first part of the puzzle right but wasn't able to solve it in time.
3 days ago
"It's a lady's robe. A robe from 1750 is a very rare robe. The only other ones I know of this type, you'd have to go to Beijing," the appraiser said.
4 days ago
Harvey also got other hilarious answers, but nothing could match the woman's sass.
4 days ago
The Gronkowski family is famous for their contributions to America's sporting culture.
4 days ago