Too many individuals share nearly all the pieces on-line. That’s a one-way ticket to Scamtown. Some information makes you an particularly prime goal. Keep these near the vest.
I’m gifting away an iPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence. No buy obligatory; enter now!
1. Your relationship standing
Widows and widowers are huge targets. Crooks need to get their dirty fingers on inheritance cash. Take Rosalie Douglass, who tried her hand at on-line relationship and listed “widow” as her relationship standing. Two completely different scammers related with Rosalie and swindled her out of a staggering $430,000.
HOW TO (KINDLY) ASK PEOPLE NOT TO POST YOUR KIDS’ PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Pro tip: If you are a widow or widower, hold it off your relationship and social media apps. You by no means know who’s watching.
2. Your trip plans
Tiffany posted about her household’s upcoming Carnival cruise on Facebook by sharing photographs of her tickets. She didn’t take into consideration the actual fact her reserving reference quantity was included. The identical day, a scammer created a brand new Carnival account utilizing Tiffany’s affirmation quantity. The scammer canceled her reserving and ruined her $15,000 journey.
Widows and widowers are huge targets for scammers. (Reuters)
Pro tip: Announcing your trip plans earlier than or throughout your journey screams “Rob me!” Take tons of pics in your trip, however do not share them till you are residence.
3. Videos of you speaking
Artificial intelligence instruments make it low-cost and simple for anybody to create a deepfake video. Recently, on TikTok, a lady named Sam stated a shady model stole her face and used it to advertise a product. The model did all of it with a video from her social media account and a few deepfake software program.
BIOMETRIC DATA: IS IT SAFE TO HAND IT OVER TO ANY COMPANY THAT ASKS?
Pro tip: Limit the private info you share on-line, particularly high-quality pictures and movies of you speaking. For most people, setting your social media accounts to “non-public” is the way in which to go.
4. Expensive electronics you’re promoting
A South Carolina man listed a limited-edition PlayStation on a Facebook buy-sell-trade group. The “purchaser” he met up with pulled out a gun and made off with the PlayStation, plus the person’s telephone, pockets and watch. Scary.
Watch out for scammers on Facebook. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)
Pro tip: If you’re promoting something expensive, meet in a public house throughout the day and convey a buddy. Your native police division’s car parking zone ought to scare off anybody who intends to rob you.
5. Personal strolling, climbing and biking routes
Fitness apps with GPS observe method greater than exercises. I advised you concerning the Secret Service brokers who spilled the areas of President Biden and the primary girl, President-elect Trump and his spouse and Vice President Harris. In case you missed it, the brokers used Strava to trace their motion and apparently didn’t understand anybody might see these routes.
HOSPITALS FACING UNPRECEDENTED THREATS; YOU MUST SECURE YOUR HEALTH RECORDS TODAY
Pro tip: If you utilize a health app, change your settings to non-public. You can disable GPS altogether, however that shuts off the performance you utilize the app for within the first place.
6. Your children’ college or actions
You’re happy with your kiddos and need to share their milestones on-line. Sorry, however posting pictures in entrance of your child’s college or sharing their weekly soccer schedule isn’t sensible. You actually by no means know who’s watching.
Fitness apps with GPS observe greater than exercises. (iStock)
Pro tip: Don’t submit specifics about your children’ colleges, day care facilities, sports activities groups and even the golf equipment they attend. When you do share, hold it obscure and keep away from something identifiable within the background.
7. Your work particulars
The actual hazard right here is setting your self up for a rip-off. Spear-phishing scams goal one individual with extremely personalised info. Mid- and high-level staff are huge targets since they might have entry to an organization’s funds.
The extra particular particulars you submit, the extra gasoline you give a scammer. This contains the place you’re employed, your function, tasks you’re engaged on or actually anything.
Pro tip: Limit the small print you share about your job. Keep posts about profession achievements obscure or share solely with family and friends.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Get tech-smarter in your schedule
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.
