1. Scams & Schemes
Common Sense Media

2. Vocabulary Scam Identity Theft
– an attempt to trick someone, usually with the intention of stealing money or private information
- a type of crime in which your private information is stolen and used for criminal activity

3. Vocabulary
Phishing
Vulnerable
– when people send you phony s, pop-up messages, social media messages, texts, calls, or links to fake websites in order to hook you into giving out your personal information.
– in a position that makes it easier for you to be harmed or attacked

4. Think About? What is the purpose of a scam?
What tricks do people use to carry out a scam?
Can people get scammed on the Internet?
How?
Do you know someone who has been scammed?
What happened

5. What is Identity Theft?
People who scam don’t always go for money, they use a variety of strategies to get private information.
Private info used to get access to bank & credit card accounts or other personal accounts
Even “re-create” someone’s identity & produce false documents

6. Kinds of personal info thieves look for
Full name
Date of birth & location
Driver’s license or passport number
Social security number
Passwords
Account #’s & the companies where you have accounts
Current & previous addresses & phone numbers

7. Teen’s Vulnerable
Look for “clean” SS numbers –
haven’t been used to get credit yet
Thieves may sell or use them
Being a victim can ruin your financial future
If using parents’ info & cards online putting them at risk
Can take months, even years to recover your identity & may be expensive

8. How to catch a phish?
Be skeptical about online requests for personal info
Be skeptical about online messages from friends that seem out of character (account hacked)

9. Clues to Spotting A Scam Email
Need to verify account information
Sense of urgency
Spelling errors
Too good to be true
Generic greeting
Accounts in trouble
link in or attachment

16. Protecting Yourself Online
Avoid opening the message or
Don’t click on any links or download attachments. Might contain viruses or spyware
Don’t reply
Mark as “junk mail” or “spam”
If concerned about an account contact customer service by phone.

17. Consumer Fraud Reporting

18. Wrap Up
What kinds of information do identity thieves look for – and why?
How do thieves try to get at your information?
What can you do to avoid falling for scams?

19. Helpful websites Forward spam emails to spam@uce.gov Stolen Identities