The Propeller – Browser Brawl Inside This Email – 6-2-2024

In today’s digital age, impersonation scams are rampant, targeting unsuspecting consumers through various ways. New data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlights that Best Buy/Geek Squad, Amazon, and PayPal are the companies most frequently impersonated by scammers. Here’s how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from these fraudulent schemes.

Key Insights from the FTC Report

The FTC’s recent data spotlight reveals that in 2023, consumers submitted approximately 52,000 reports of scammers impersonating Best Buy or its Geek Squad tech support brand. Following closely were about 34,000 reports related to scammers impersonating Amazon, and 10,000 reports concerning PayPal impersonation scams.

Interestingly, while these companies were the most impersonated, consumers lost significantly more money to scammers impersonating Microsoft and Publishers Clearing House. Reports indicate losses totaling $60 million to Microsoft impersonation scams and $49 million to Publishers Clearing House scams.

The FTC’s New Rule on Impersonation Scams

To combat these fraudulent activities, the FTC has finalized a new rule on government and business impersonation. This rule equips the agency with stronger tools to fight and deter scammers. It enables the FTC to file federal court cases seeking restitution for victims and civil penalties against violators.

Common Payment Methods Used by Scammers

Scammers use a variety of payment methods to steal money. According to the FTC’s spotlight, cryptocurrency and bank transfers were the top methods used by investment scammers in 2023. Other frequently reported methods included payment apps or services and gift cards. The top payment apps reported were PayPal, CashApp, and Zelle, while Apple and Target gift cards were the most commonly used gift cards in these scams.

Tips to Avoid Impersonation Scams

1. Verify the Source: Always verify the legitimacy of any unsolicited communication claiming to be from a company. Use official contact information from the company’s website to confirm the legitimacy.  Do not rely on information from an email, no matter how legit it looks.  The scammers have become very good and use sophisticated techniques to make their fake emails look legit.

2. Be Skeptical of Urgent Requests: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to make you act quickly. Take a moment to pause and verify the request.

3. Avoid Unusual Payment Methods: Be wary if someone asks you to pay with cryptocurrency, gift cards, or through unconventional payment apps. Legitimate companies rarely request payments in these forms.

4. Check for Red Flags: Look out for poor grammar, spelling mistakes, and generic greetings in emails or messages, which are often signs of a scam.

5. Report Suspicious Activity: If you encounter a potential scam, report it to the FTC. This helps authorities track and combat fraudulent activities.

By staying informed and cautious, you can protect yourself from falling victim to impersonation scams. Always remember to verify, question, and report suspicious activities to safeguard your finances and personal information.

Let me share a little story that might save you some time and hassle. I was chatting with a friend recently, and the conversation took an interesting turn—she mentioned logging into her credit card account to make her monthly payment manually. Yup, she was waiting for the statement to arrive in the mail, then logging in to initiate the payment every month. Sound familiar?

If you’re nodding your head, it’s time for a friendly tech reminder: autopay is your friend.

The Autopay Advantage

My friend didn’t realize autopay was an option, and I suspect she’s not alone. Here’s the deal: if you pay your credit card in full and on time every month, and you have enough in your checking account to cover it, autopay is a no-brainer. It simplifies your financial life and helps you avoid late fees and missed payments.

How to Set Up Autopay

Setting up autopay is super easy and takes just a few clicks. Here’s a quick guide:

1. Log into your credit card account.
2. Find the autopay option—usually under payment settings.
3. Choose your payment preference. Most cards let you set up autopay to pay the full statement balance on the due date.
4. Confirm your settings.

Boom! Just like that, you’ve taken one stressor off your plate.

Why You Should Do It

1. Peace of Mind: No more worrying about missing a payment deadline.
2. Time-Saver: Spend less time managing payments and more time doing what you love.
3. Financial Health: Helps you stay on top of your financial game effortlessly.

If you’re not sure how to set it up for your specific card, just Google “how to set your [Bank Name] card on autopay,” and you’ll find step-by-step instructions.

Pro Tip

Always ensure you have enough funds in your checking account to cover the autopay amount. This way, you avoid any potential overdraft fees.

Let’s embrace autopay and streamline our financial routines. Your future self will thank you for making this smart move today.

Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round for the ultimate showdown in the world of web browsing! In one corner, we have the reigning champ, the undisputed king of browsing – Google Chrome! And in the other corner, the challenger, the underdog with a fresh new look – Microsoft Edge! It’s a battle of the browsers, folks, and only one can emerge victorious. But hey, before we ring the bell, let’s delve into why Microsoft Edge might just have a fighting chance against the Chrome giant.

Round 1: Speed and Performance In the fast-paced world of the internet, speed is key, and both contenders are primed for the race. But Edge, with its sleek and streamlined design, has been hitting the gym, shedding those excess milliseconds and zipping through web pages like a caffeinated cheetah. Chrome may have been the speed demon of yesteryear, but Edge is here to give it a run for its money – quite literally, considering it’s free.

Round 2: Resource Management Picture this: you’ve got twenty tabs open, your favorite playlist blasting, and suddenly, your browser starts chugging like a tired old steam engine. Enter Microsoft Edge, the master of resource management. With its fancy tricks like Sleeping Tabs, which puts inactive tabs to sleep to conserve resources, Edge ensures that your browsing experience remains smooth and snappy, even when you’re pushing your computer to the limit.

Round 3: Privacy and Security When it comes to keeping your data safe from prying eyes, both browsers have their guard up. But Edge, with its built-in tracking prevention and secure browsing features, takes the cake in the privacy department. Plus, with Microsoft’s robust security infrastructure backing it up, you can browse with confidence, knowing that your personal information is locked down tighter than Fort Knox.

Round 4: Customization and Features Chrome may have a vast library of extensions and add-ons, but Edge is no slouch in the customization department. With features like Collections for organizing your research, Immersive Reader for distraction-free reading, and even a built-in price comparison tool for savvy shoppers, Edge offers a plethora of tools to tailor your browsing experience to your liking.

And there you have it, folks – a tongue-in-cheek brawl between two browser behemoths. I’m very partial to Microsoft Edge and have been using it exclusively for a few years now.  Whether you’re Team Chrome or Team Edge, one thing’s for sure – the battle for browser supremacy is far from over!