! IMPROMPTU !: The Burned Scammer

Beware of The Burning Scammers!!!

Hi, I'm Prof. NOTA! Now I want to tell you about the Burning Scammers.

Basically, no one wants to get burned by a scammer, especially when you think you won a prize or get a message saying a package is shipped and you need to update an address. This type of scam is called phishing.

Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information or data, such as full names, passwords, credit/debit card information, etc., through electronic media by impersonating a trustworthy person/party. Phishing is mostly found in the form of e-mail. The perpetrator will send an e-mail on behalf of a certain party and lure the victim to click on the link listed in the e-mail.

Another type of phishing scam is called smishing because it's over SMS. Smishing is a phishing scam via electronic messages/SMS, also known as SMS phishing. By knowing your mobile number, the perpetrator can send a message/SMS on behalf of a trusted party that aims to trick you into clicking on a malicious link containing malware or directing you to a website made by the perpetrator. Compared to e-mail, messages in the form of SMS on a smartphone feel more personal, making the victim less alert.

The best thing to do if you receive a suspicious message with a link is to delete it. If you think the message might be real. Look up the information independently. Don't click on the link. Scam messages cost Americans over $86 million in 2020, according to the FTC. So delete those messages and tell scammers that in our community this activity is off-limits.

Thank you for reading and helping our community keep Tezos community fraud free.