With the ever-changing technology, it can be hard to keep up with the new ways scam artists come up with to commit fraud against you. Inside Buford is dedicated to helping you spot the red flags so you don’t become a victim.
Today’s spotting a scam red flag tip: Being asked to give a code
Companies are doing their best to protect their customers and many are requiring two-factor authentication when a customer goes to log into their online account. Two-factor authentication requires a customer to put in their password and typically, a code that has been texted or emailed to a mobile phone number or email address that the customer used when they set up the account. The customer then has to enter the code as well as the password to log into their online account making it more difficult for scammers to get into your account.
A legitimate company or even someone you may know could try to trick you into turning over control of your online accounts. The most rewarding ones for scam artists would be your financial accounts like banking, Venmo, PayPal, CashApp and Zelle, but any account where they can steal part of your identity whether it is your personal or professional identity can pay off for them.
The scam artist will give you a story that sounds legitimate and they will tell you that they just need you to give them a code that they send to you via email or a text message. Unless you have reached out to that company in a legitimate way, do not ever comply with this request. You will put yourself in danger of them stealing your account and it could cost you time and money to recover it.
When in doubt, stop and tell the person you don’t feel comfortable doing that and you will be hanging up to call the company’s main phone number listed on their website or the back of your credit/debit card. They might tell you that you will be penalized or some other story to try to compel you into giving them that code. Do not give them the code. Hang up!
A legitimate company or government entity will never call you to ask for a code.
Stay tuned in as Inside Buford continues to help you keep updated on the latest scams and tricks they use to commit fraud.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is a good resource for the latest scams. Click here to visit their website.
