I just received a call from an unidentified caller who said he was working for Smith Barney / Bank of America / Morgan Stanley and trying to get me some annuity information from the Tempe office to me. This fast talker rattled off his name (Michael), and the financial institutions like he was on his way to a fire. He told me he was verifying my address to send me a package and needed some more information. Catching you off-guard and spewing off several questions to create confusion are the tools of the scammer to extract information from the unsuspecting.

Do you know that identity theft is expensive? I have been told that identity theft can cost one $20,000 or more in legal fees to clean up the mess.

Be safe, if you did not initiate the call don’t give the caller any information, especially your social security, mother maiden name, local bank branch … If you are interested in the call, ask for a name and callback number. Then look it up.

Googling this callers number shows a number of scam complaints.

Hello Sun Lakes,

The Sun Lakes Web is your tool for posting free advertisements and blogging about local Sun Lakes events.  If you have a community service organization or Sun Lakes club, you may post an entry in the Community Services directory.  Stories of public interest, local events, restaurant reviews are welcome.   

Residents may post free, non commercial classified advertisements, with pictures in over 80 categories.  You need only to create an account to place your advertisement.  So think Green, save a tree and get on board with today’s technology for communication with your neighbors at Sun Lakes; post – not paper!

If you are a professional and are interested in writing a periodical blog, (monthly, quarterly) please contact me to discuss.

Social engineering is the tactic used to take the con game to the masses.  Today, con artists operate on a large scale using email and other mass communication tactics to dupe unsuspecting people into their traps and out of their money.  Mass communications make it easy to play the numbers.

I am a former computer security officer my training helps keep me out of some trouble.  However, you don’t need to be a professional background to protect your identity.  You just need some common sense to avoid a lot of trouble.

If you have email, sooner or later you will receive correspondence from someone who wants to do you harm.  They may offer you an opportunity to make money or may trick you into believing they have a business relationship with you.  Because this tactic is effective, the con artist continues to use it.

Here is how it works: Read more