Have you ever been scammed or do you know anyone who has?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Listen in to today\u2019s episode and learn how you can protect yourself from online scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ll learn vocabulary related to these schemes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be ready to connect in English about scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lindsay asks Aubrey if she has ever been scammed or knows anyone who has been scammed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aubrey shares that she received a notification from her bank that someone tried to sign up for a credit card in her name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luckily the bank attempted to verify the transaction before approving it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was nearly a victim of identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She had to change a lot of her information to keep her accounts secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Lindsay and Aubrey will share different vocabulary related to scams and how to avoid some of the most common scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With most transactions done online now, malicious people often attempt to hack accounts and steal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a topic that is very common in the business world most especially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are different words you should be aware of about online threats and scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing this terminology will help you avoid and connect about online traps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a type of online fraud where criminals impersonate legitimate entities like banks or companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They do this to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information like passwords or credit card details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is often done through fake emails, texts, or websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term \u2018malware\u2019 is short for malicious software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a computer program that is designed to damage or steal data from a computer or network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A virus is a specific type of malware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It self-replicates and spreads by attaching itself to other files or programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is also known as SMS Phishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With this scam, text messages are sent that appear to be from legitimate companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, they are actually designed to trick users into clicking on malicious links or sharing personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aubrey shares she gets these messages often from someone impersonating EZ Pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She receives an SMS which is a final reminder that she owes a fine for not paying a toll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is vital that these are deleted without opening them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If possible, you can also report them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is also known as Voice Phishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With this scam, phone calls are made that appear to be from legitimate companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, they are actually designed to trick users into sharing personal information or paying money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They can disguise themselves on a phone as a telemarketer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a documentary you can check out on HBO called “Telemarketers.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It explores a telemarketing scam where employees at a New Jersey firm tricked many people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They posed as fundraisers and pretended to be raising money for firefighter and police charities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In reality, they were funneling most of the funds to their employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many ways that hackers can access your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few of the most common phishing scams:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you are aware of all these dangers online, you can avoid these online threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t click on links or open attachments from unknown senders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Always go directly to the website before entering any personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If in doubt, contact the company to verify whether they sent the correspondence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Always use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider using software like LastPass or OnePassword to generate and keep track of strong passwords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use MFA for accounts whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This gives you an extra layer of protection on your important accounts such as online banking or even your work database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you are working on the go<\/a>, it is advisable not to use public WiFi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The public internet that is available to everyone will always be risky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is because hackers can access your device once you\u2019re connected to an unprotected network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use your own internet connection such as your phone hotspot or a company that can provide a secure network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is vital that you can recognize and avoid scams in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a global problem that you see in your first language and also in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From phishing emails to fake texts and calls, scams are evolving and becoming harder to detect<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The vocabulary and examples in today\u2019s lesson will help you stay a step ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTakeaway<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n