Close-up Facebook scam call that attempts to steal credit card information

Have you ever received any suspicious emails or pop-ups that made a heart race for even a second? You are not alone. Online scams are more persuasive every day, and even the most tech-savvy of us can find one click away from the trouble.

Phishing is one of the most common ways scammers can access your personal information. This email we received wasn’t surprising as many people are sacrificed every day.

Ask “Pamela.” He writes to us:

Her story reminds us that everyone can fall into a commonly executed scam. We’ll share some tips on what happened to her, how she caught it just in time, how to avoid being scamed on Facebook, and how to report it.

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Facebook scam warning: How Pamela fell into technical support hoax

“I was working on Facebook and suddenly there was a flash of screen and a sound, my computer was locked and I had to call a number to report a violation. I thought it was Microsoft so I called the number. The guy gave me my name and employee number.

“The screen is all my credit cards that compromised everything he said, but the first numbers only: 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx, etc. Then he moved me to the FTC and said he gave me the numbers in case we answered another guy.

“I’ve been in politics and business for over 50 years. I looked up him while I was on the phone and realized that the head of the FTC didn’t answer the support line. When I refused to give him any information, he cried out that my IP was being used on porn sites and that I didn’t want to stop it.

“I have great virus software on every device, and I use two-step verification for almost everything, but it still almost fell. I’m sharing this story to help others.”

Pamela was lucky. Her security measures and quick thinking saved her, but these tactics are becoming more common and aggressive. Here’s what you can do to stay safe:

Beware of pop-up scams that pretend to be Microsoft or FTC

Scammers often use amazing pop-up messages and automated voices that claim their devices are being compromised, prompting them to call numbers for help. As explained in Pamela’s experience, the pop-up played a voice message claiming her computer was locked and instructing her to call what appears to be a Microsoft support number. The scammers then tried to use fake names and employee numbers to impersonate both Microsoft employees and government officials, and pressure them to reveal sensitive information.

If you receive a pop-up or voice message claiming that your device is at risk, please do not call the number provided or share your personal information. Instead, contact your organization directly using official contact details from the website. Legitimate businesses and government agencies will never ask you to provide sensitive information or credit card numbers over the phone in response to unsolicited pop-ups or calls.

Protect your online account with a powerful and unique password

Make sure each online account has a unique password. This prevents fraudsters from accessing multiple accounts if they are compromised. Password generators provide secure passwords, but by looking at three random things in the room and using them to form passwords, you can also easily create passwords that are difficult to crack. Consider using a password manager for a strong and unique password. Password managers help you generate and securely store complex unique passwords for each account. This will prevent you from reusing your passwords and make it much more difficult for a scammer to access multiple accounts if it is compromised. Get my details Find the best expert reviewed password managers of 2025 here.

Google’s AI unlocks powerful scam features for Android

Don’t get into urgency: How to put pressure on you to act quickly

Scammers create a false sense of urgency to act quickly without thinking. Take your time to confirm urgent requests, especially requests that include money and personal information. Don’t act on impulses.

Carefully check before clicking on the URL and use powerful antivirus software

Check the link before clickingespecially if they come from someone who has randomly contacted you on the internet. Scammers use URLs that appear to be similar to legitimate sites, but usually contain slight spelling errors or different domains (such as Payepal.com or Microsoft.xyz). It also installs and updates powerful antivirus software.
Protect all your devices, including computers, tablets, smartphones and more with powerful antivirus software. The best way to protect yourself from malicious links to install malware is to install antivirus software on all devices, as it may access your personal information. This protection can also warn you that it will phish email and ransomware fraud and keep your personal information and digital assets safe. Get the best 2025 Antivirus Protection Winners picks for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

Don’t click on that link! How to find and prevent phishing attacks in your inbox

Always update the software you use

Each operating system, browser, and security software you use update On computers and mobile devices. These updates often include patches that fix security vulnerabilities that scammers can exploit.

Beware of your social media personal information

Think carefully before sharing personal details such as your birthday, address, or pet name. Scammers can use information from their social media profiles to guess their passwords and use personalized crafts Phishing Attack.

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Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) for all accounts

Please do not limit MFA Only for the main account. Please enable email, social media, financial services, etc. whenever possible. Multifactor authentication adds additional steps to the login process, making it much more difficult for scammers to access, even if you have a password.

Clean up your online footprint using the Personal Data Deletion Service

Scammers often scrutinize the internet for your personal information. Personal Data Deletion Services can reduce the amount of sensitive data available online, making it difficult for scammers to target you with persuasive attacks. Although there is no service that guarantees the complete deletion of data from the Internet, data deletion services are truly a wise choice. They are not cheap and not your privacy either.

These services do all of their work by proactively monitoring and systematically erasing personal information from hundreds of websites. It has given me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase personal data from the internet. By limiting the available information, you reduce the risk that scammers cross-referencing your data from violations, providing information they may find on the dark web, making it difficult for them to target you. Check out our top picks for data deletion services.

Get it Free scan Find out if your personal information is already on the web.

Check your financial statements and credit reports regularly

Monitor your bank accounts, credit cards and credit reports for abnormal or unauthorized activity. Early detection is important. If you find anything suspicious, please report it to the financial institution and the appropriate authorities immediately.

Please back up important data regularly

Ransomware or other attacks can lock you out of your files. Regularly backup Important data to external hard drives or secure cloud services. This allows you to recover information in the event that your device is compromised.

Report online fraud to these official authorities

If you encounter a fraud, report it to the appropriate authorities to collect lost funds and prevent others from becoming victims of the same fraud. By reporting fraud, it contributes to a database where law enforcement can track patterns and catch criminals. Where can you report to include FTCyour local FBI office, IC3 And your state’s Consumer Protection Bureau.

Important takeouts in your cart

Keep in mind that scammers are constantly evolving their tactics. You need to be on alert at all times. There is a psychological aspect to their methods, so don’t be too much of technology to protect you. Be skeptical and trust your instincts. By continuing to share experiences and provide information, we will strengthen our community’s defense against cybercrime.

What was the most frightening encounter in online scams? Also, how did you try not to fall into it? Write us a letter and let us know cyberguy.com/contact.

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