Stay Alert – Beware of Online Shopping Scams

Scammers will try to trick you into buying fake or counterfeit items, or paying for items you never receive, by creating websites that look like popular online stores. They may also contact you directly through email or social media, offering great deals on popular items that are hard to find.

Here are some of the most common online shopping scams:

• Auction Scams – You find a great deal on an auction site, but after you pay, they never send the product, or they send a fake one.
  
  
• Counterfeit Goods Scams – You’re sent counterfeit goods instead of the real thing. Fake products may not work properly and can pose a safety hazard.
  
  
• Fake Online Stores – These scam websites look like a legitimate online store, but they’re just trying to get your payment information. The website may disappear altogether after a short time.
  
  
• Payment Processing Scams – You’re asked to pay by gift cards, wire transfer, or a prepaid debit card. Once you make the payment, you never receive the product or service.
  
  
• Phishing Scams – These usually come in the form of an email that looks like it’s from a legitimate online store. The goal is to get your login credentials or credit card number.
  
  
• Social Media Shopping Scams – Scammers will often pose as a seller on sites such as Etsy, Poshmark, or Facebook Marketplace. When you reach out to inquire about an item, they ask for too much personal and financial information.

When you shop online, watch for red flags that indicate it’s a scam. They include a website or ad that looks unprofessional, a seller asking for personal information before you make a purchase, and no contact information provided for the website or business. Be especially wary of deals involving designer items, weight loss products, and vacation packages.

If you become the victim of an online shopping scam, act right away to protect yourself and your finances. Keep all documentation related to the scam, including any emails, messages, or receipts. You may need to provide this information to law enforcement. If the scammer got your credit card number or bank account information, contact the financial institution immediately. It may be able to help you cancel the transaction or get your money back.

FAQ/Tutorial – What Does the New Apple Vision Pro Do?

QUESTION: I’ve heard buzz about the new Apple Vision Pro. What exactly is it and what does it do?

ANSWER: The new Apple Vision Pro is described as a spatial computing headset, which means it blends digital content with your physical space. So, for example, if you’re wearing the Apple Vision Pro headset, your FaceTime video tiles will be life-size and appear to be floating in the room, along with screens showing selected apps like Safari or Prime Video. You navigate everything simply by using your eyes, hands, and voice.

Want to feel like you’re somewhere other than your home or office? Apple Vision Pro lets you transform the space around you. Choose from a selection of landscapes including Yosemite and the Moon, or turn your living room into a personal movie theater with the Cinema Environment.

OpenAI’s CEO and co-founder Sam Altman posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he considered Apple Vision Pro to be the “second most impressive tech since the iPhone launched in 2007.” (Presumably, behind OpenAI’s own ChatGPT.) Even though most of us won’t be in the market for the $3,500 device any time soon, the technology is fascinating and something to watch in the years ahead.

CUSTOMER ALERT — CHARITY SCAMS EXPLOIT COMPASSION

A global crisis — from a natural disaster to a humanitarian emergency — will evoke a powerful urge to help. Scammers exploit this compassion for their own gain, weaving elaborate webs of deceit disguised as charitable efforts.

Here are the most common types of fraud used by scammers after such tragedies:

• Fake websites or social media pages that look like they belong to a legitimate charity – Scammers will use the same name or logo as a legitimate charity, or a similar name or logo. They may also copy the charity’s website design or create a fake website that uses a similar web address as the real charity.
• Crowdfunding scams – We’ve all seen people ask for donations on social media to help fund someone’s medical bills or provide aid following a natural disaster. Keep in mind that scammers also use sites like Go Fund Me with fake stories to solicit donations.
• Direct contact with people to ask for donations – This can be done in person, by mail, by phone, or via email, text message, or social media messaging. The scammer may claim to be a representative of a legitimate charity, or say that they’re raising money for a specific individual or family in need.

To protect yourself from these scams, always verify before donating to any charity by using independent resources like Charity Navigator or GiveWell. One rule of thumb that works consistently is to ignore unsolicited pitches. If you didn’t call, text, or email the organization, don’t respond. You’re better off sending money directly to the charity of your choice.

Short Tutorial/FAQ – How do I browse more privately in Chrome or Safari?

If you don’t want Google Chrome to remember your browsing history, you can browse the web privately in Incognito mode. This same type of feature is known as Private Browsing in Safari on Apple devices, and it prevents your browsing from being recorded and stored on your device.

How to Use Icognito Mode in Google Chrome

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. At the top right, click the stack of three dots, then select New Incognito Window.
3. A new window appears. In the top corner, check for the Incognito icon (hat and glasses).

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to open an Incognito window:

• Windows, Linux, or Chrome OS: Press Ctrl + Shift + n.
• Mac: Press Command + Shift + n.

You can switch between Incognito windows and regular Chrome windows. You’ll only browse in private when you’re using an Incognito window.

How to Use Private Browsing in Safari

1. Open Safari and click on File in the menu bar at the top.
2. Choose New Private Window, and you will get a new window to browse privately in Safari on Mac.
3. Alternatively, you can use the Mac shortcut Command + Shift + N to access Private Browsing.
4. You will see a dark Smart Search field with white text.
5. If you open multiple tabs within a Private Browsing window, they will work as individual private sessions and Safari won’t share any data between the tabs.

Stay Alert – DON’T FALL FOR ROMANCE SCAMMERS

A romance scam occurs when a criminal creates a fake profile — on social media or through a dating app — and feigns romantic interest to create a feeling of trust and scam the victim out of money. To spot a romance scam, watch for these red flags, which identify what scammers typically do:

• Pretend to be heroes in faraway places. They may claim to be Marines, soldiers, admirals, generals, diplomats, or surgeons.
• Say they’ve “fallen in love” quickly. They’ll often use endearing terms such as “darling” and “love of my life” and attribute the budding romance to destiny or fate, making the victim feel as special as possible.
• Post a profile with vague or few images across platforms. These scammers will usually impersonate someone else and have only one or two images of the person they’re pretending to be.
• Try to move to a more personal communication platform. Dating sites and apps have parameters in place to help spot scammers and ultimately remove them. That’s why scammers may try to quickly get you to move to a more private communication platform, such as emailing or texting.
• Ask for money. If a love interest you’ve met online asks for money before you’ve met in person, you’re being scammed.

If you think someone is a scammer, cut off contact immediately and tell the dating app or social media platform about your concerns.