New technology is an awesome tool and resource to utilize. Unfortunately people take advantage as technology is very prevalent in our community today. People will utilize Artificial Intelligence to scam other people out of different things and programs. A personal experience I had with a scam was when I received a text that I had an unpaid toll and that my drivers license is now suspended. The text had different links that I could use to pay the toll and to unsuspended my drivers license. I panicked and without thinking I clicked on one of links and started to input my credit card information. The next day I got a notification my card has been hacked and about $5,000 dollars that I didn’t have was spent and well long story short I had to get a new credit card.
The purpose of the scam was to create a panic by stating that my license was suspended, to get me to pay my unpaid toll all just to steal my credit card information to get access to my bank account. It worked by redirecting me to a link to put in my information where the hackers then stole my data for my bank account. Some ways I could have looked at to evaluate the text was to see who the sender was from and see if the sender was actually from a legit contact such as the DMV. I also could have called the DMV and realized that a bunch of links and a big threaten text is less likely to come from the DMV. Looking back in the past that hard lesson taught me something valuable, that now when I get risky texts with a lot of links I delete and report them rather than clicking them and allowing my information to be hacked.
I’ve also dealt with scammers, and it’s honestly sad how common they are and how easily people can be manipulated. One time someone even called my grandfather pretending to be my brother in jail and asking for money. Luckily he didn’t fall for it, but its showed how far people are willing to go just to make some quick cash.
Hi Makayla
Yes I agree how crazy it is that people will scam for money. Oh no! that is a such a crazy scam! I’m glad he didn’t fall for it and everything worked out.
Scamming has always been a scare to me in the back of my mind. Even going to the gas station has been a worry because of how easily there could be a fake card reader! It’s so frustrating how realistic these scams are nowadays.
Hi Kallista
Scam are so easy now especially with the card reader! Always make sure to double check before swiping your card!
I can relate to what you said because scams like that are really easy to fall for when they make everything feel urgent. I’ve gotten similar scam texts that made me almost click before realizing it didn’t seem right. It shows how quickly you can panic or not think it through in the moment. Now I just make sure to check the sender and not click random links.
Hi Katie
Yes that is a great idea to make sure you check who sent it and what it is asking before you click on the link.
Scammers now a days are horrible. I get calls at least once a week and texts almost everyday so I know how you feel. I’m glad that it worked out and you didn’t lose $5,000!!
Hi Ella
Oh N0! hopefully it is from the same number so you can block the calls!