Scam alerts Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

ATTN Bloggers: Beware insecure and malicious WordPress plugins

Posted on January 22, 2020

Are you a blogger who uses WordPress to power your blog?

If so, you probably have several plugins installed that add extra features or functionality to your blog.

To be sure, WordPress plugins are wonderful things. They can add all kinds of useful and attractive bells and whistles to your blog and make it more enjoyable to use.

What’s more, installing a high-quality security plugin can help protect your blog from hackers. And believe me, your blog IS being attacked by hackers on a daily basis, whether you realize it or not.

Unfortunately, all of the above being said, some plugins can also put your blog and all of your hard work at risk. [Read more…]

Scam alert: Scammers are impersonating Microsoft techs and tricking people into giving them remote access to their PCs. Don’t fall for it!

Posted on January 17, 2020

There’s an old scam that keeps popping up from time to time, and I’m hearing lots of reports that it’s spreading like wildfire at the moment.

A while back I wrote a post explaining that neither Microsoft nor Apple will call you to let you know that your machine has a virus.

And they won’t, so if you get a call like that from out of the blue you should know right off the bat that the call is a scam. Just hang up on them.

But now there’s a quickly spreading variation of that scam that’s costing a lot of folks a lot of money and causing tons of grief to boot.

[Read more…]

Scam Alert: Beware of fake confirmation emails for online purchases (even if you recently made one)

Posted on January 16, 2020

Well, the Internet shopping era is here to stay, and more shoppers are now buying online than ever. And in my opinion, all things considered, that’s a good thing.

But that being said, you should know that scammers are constantly coming out of the virtual woodwork to try to separate you from your hard-earned money. [Read more…]

Scam alert: If you use a dating app it’s probably selling your personal info!

Posted on January 15, 2020

Do you use a dating app on your phone or tablet?

If so, it’s probably selling or otherwise sharing your personal info with dozens of other companies.

According to this recent ABC News report, the Norwegian Consumer Council has discovered that “serious privacy infringements” are being perpetrated by the companies behind several of the world’s most popular dating apps.

In short, the apps are selling or otherwise sharing the personal info from user accounts with at least 135 other third-party companies and services.

[Read more…]

Scam alert: Why you should always take ‘Fact Checks’ of political statements with a grain of salt

Posted on January 14, 2020

Important: As you read this post please keep in mind that it isn’t meant as a jab at people of any certain political persuasion.

What I say below applies equally to fact checkers who lean to the right AND to the left.

I have my own political opinions and you are certainly entitled to yours as well. This post is meant strictly as a warning about “fact checkers” in general.

Truth be told, this isn’t meant to be a “political post” at all.

I’m simply alerting you to a real-life scam that some fact checkers perpetuate every day on the Internet and on television “news” broadcasts.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get started…

[Read more…]