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How scammers are posing as your cable and internet providers

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How scammers are posing as your cable and internet providers

The Federal Commerce Fee has not too long ago gotten numerous studies of rip-off artists pretending to be cable and web corporations. These fraudsters are so good at deception that even the savviest client can get duped.

Regardless of call-blocking apps, software program, and caller ID, rip-off artists are conning hard-working folks such as you and me of our hard-earned money over the cellphone.

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A burner cellphone will help you keep away from calls made by unknown numbers.
(iStock)

 A lady not too long ago emailed me saying this very factor occurred to her and her husband:

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“We simply acquired a rip-off cellphone name yesterday addressing my husband by title and claiming to be Cox Cable. We had simply canceled Cox cable TV two or three days earlier than, which this caller was privy about. They supplied a 40% low cost if we reconnected. I inquired about the fee, however earlier than he would give me the fee, he needed to confirm our account and requested for my mom’s maiden title. That is when the purple flag went up. I mentioned, ‘Could I name you again in quarter-hour’, with the intention of testing the cellphone quantity and calling Cox Cable. The caller replied that he’d name me again. As soon as I did a Google search of the quantity and referred to as Cox Cable, I spotted it was, in reality, a rip-off name. The caller did not name again. I adopted up with a name to my older dad and mom to warn them about these kind of scams.”

“The query in my thoughts is, how did they know we had simply canceled cable service with Cox Cable after we would had it for the previous 11 years? Is there a breach within the Cox Cable information system?”

GEN Z WON’T TALK ON PHONE — NOW, ‘THE PHONE LADY’ IS ON A MISSION

How you can inform in case you are being scammed

Scammers posing as trusted sources like your cable or web supplier make all of it the simpler for his or her victims to fall prey to them and willingly give out their private info. And sadly, an increasing number of rip-off artists are likely to prey on folks aged 65 and older as a result of:

  • They’ve good credit score
  • They are typically financially safe
  • They’re reliable

CALIFORNIA RESCUERS SAY ‘FIND MY IPHONE’ FEATURE HELPED SAVE WOMAN AFTER 200-FT. PLUMMET

Photo of woman on the phone potentially speaking with scammers asking for personal information.

Photograph of girl on the cellphone probably talking with scammers asking for private info.
(Fox Information)

Fortunately, there are straightforward purple flags to look out for to find out if the individual calling you is genuinely who they declare to be:

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  • In the event that they ask for private info over the cellphone – service suppliers won’t ever contact you asking for this.
  • It’s from an unknown cellphone number- if the quantity will not be one in all your contacts or not acquainted to you, they’re greater than doubtless a rip-off artist.

Sadly, some rip-off artists are superior sufficient to make their caller IDs seem as if they’re, in reality, the corporate they’re claiming to be. If they’re legit, they’ll go away a message so that you can name them again with the quantity, permitting you to do a Google search and make sure the quantity is protected. They’re most definitely rip-off artists if they do not go away a message.

HOW YOUR IPHONE OR ANDROID CAN PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN 24/7

How did the scammers get the lady and her husband’s private info

It’s alarming that the rip-off artist appeared to know the maiden title of the lady’s mom and that they’d simply canceled their cable subscription.

A mom’s maiden title is likely one of the hottest safety questions folks select to authenticate their identification, ought to they get locked out of their account. Comprehensible as a result of that is a simple query to recollect; nonetheless, it is also straightforward to trace down, as a easy web search may uncover it. Information brokers or “folks search” websites accumulate your info, together with your birthday, cellphone quantity, and handle, from varied web sites, then promote it to folks looking for you on-line for a small charge.

ONE CLICK AND NEW NASTY MALWARE AZOV COULD WIPE OUT ALL YOUR DATA

An upset couple presumably upset about being scammed.

An upset couple presumably upset about being scammed.
(Fox Information)

Thankfully, there are methods to get a deal with on what private info of yours is on the market on the web. Essentially the most surefire manner is to spend money on a trusted removing service as coated in our article right here.

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As for the way they knew in regards to the girl and her husband canceling their subscription, that’s unusual. It’s not unfathomable to assume there could also be prying eyes in your electronic mail that will reveal you canceled your cable. It’s possible you’ll take into account locking up your electronic mail with a safe electronic mail account if these calls maintain coming.   Take a look at my #1 decide for safe electronic mail at CyberGuy.com/Mail.

Acquired a narrative like this you’d prefer to share, head over to CyberGuy.com and tell us.

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Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  CyberGuy.com articles and content material could comprise affiliate hyperlinks that earn a fee when purchases are made.

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Microsoft’s Surface AI event: news, rumors, and lots of Qualcomm laptops

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Microsoft’s Surface AI event: news, rumors, and lots of Qualcomm laptops

The Snapdragon X Plus is Qualcomm’s entry-level laptop chip. It has 10 cores, 42MB of cache, a maximum multithreaded frequency of 3.4GHz, and an NPU with 45 tera operations per second (TOPS, or how many mathematical calculations it can solve in a second) to assist with fancy-smancy generative AI applications. But keep in mind, TOPS is an arbitrary measurement that can sound more impressive than it is because it doesn’t necessarily take into account the type or quality of those calculations.

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New Teslas might lose Steam

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New Teslas might lose Steam

Tesla might be dropping Steam support on some new deliveries of Model X, according to a message from the company shared by a Reddit user who is expecting to take delivery of the long-range version of the electric SUV.

Tesla’s message alerts the customer that the company is “updating the gaming computer” in the Model X and says it’s “no longer capable of playing Steam games.” The message ends with a button for the customer to confirm they will proceed with the delivery.

There’s no indication that other Tesla models will be affected. And we’re not seeing any signs that the automaker plans to remove Steam from current owners’ vehicles through a software update. However, Tesla’s already seems to be leaning toward dropping Steam support for some other models.

Steam isn’t available in the Cybertruck, for example, and Tesla hasn’t said whether it plans on bringing the gaming platform to its bestselling Model Y and Model 3 vehicles, despite newer models sporting improved AMD Ryzen processors. The company has already removed some games over the years, including Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Is this autonomous security guard robot the protection you need?

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Is this autonomous security guard robot the protection you need?

They’re not your typical office workers. Standing at 5 feet tall and cruising through the corridors at a leisurely 3 mph, these robotic guards are the latest addition to workplace security. 

Gone are the days of the traditional security guard. Now, robots are taking over the night shift and beyond.

How do these security robots work?

Cobalt’s robots are custom-built to navigate the unique challenges of each building, from ramps to elevators. They patrol the hallways, vigilant for signs of trouble – be it an unusual motion after hours or a door left ajar – and report their findings to a human-staffed call center.

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These robots can even spot things that might escape the watchful eye of a security camera. They can do this because they are equipped with a depth camera, heat-detecting thermal sensors, 4K cameras that can see 360 degrees, Lidar, as well as a Microphone array for listening and PA system for announcing.

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Interactivity and assistance of the security robot

With a simple tap on the screen, employees can summon a 24/7 specialist to address concerns ranging from spills, unwelcome visitors or suspicious activity. This seamless integration of technology and human oversight lets real-life guards spend more time responding and less time observing now that Cobalt is carefully watching on patrol and reporting back what it detects.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

ROBOT security 3

MORE: ELECTRIC HUMANOID ROBOT TO SHAKE UP THE JOB MARKET

Case study: DoorDash

DoorDash has embraced Cobalt’s robotic guards across its corporate sites. The result? Enhanced security operations with fewer sick days, no HR complaints, and a boost in both accuracy and response times for security and safety-related incidents.

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MORE: THE SHAPE-SHIFTING UNDERWATER ROBOT PIONEERING THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA

Robots vs. humans: The numbers

The driving force behind this robotic revolution is money. It’s far more economical for companies to deploy robots for round-the-clock security than to rely solely on human guards. According to Forrester Research, opting for a robotic guard over a human can lead to substantial savings – around $79,000 annually. That’s a figure that’s hard to ignore for any business looking to optimize its operations.

MORE: APOLLO THE ROBOT JOINS MERCEDES-BENZ ASSEMBLY LINE PRODUCTION

The competitive landscape of the security robot

The security robot market is heating up, with competition between indoor and outdoor models. While Cobalt’s robots are indoor specialists, others like Knightscope and SMP Robots are venturing into both terrains, including malls, hotels and industrial sites. And let’s not forget drones, which are starting to make their mark in the security domain.

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Challenges and considerations of security robots

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Security robots have had their share of mishaps, from minor accidents to malfunctioning in critical situations. And there’s the human factor to consider. Sometimes, nothing can replace the reassurance of a human presence in times of distress.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Despite the occasional glitch, the consensus is clear: Security robots are here to stay, and their presence is set to grow as the technology continues to advance. They may not replace human guards entirely, but they’re redefining the role and allowing humans to focus on more strategic tasks.

What’s your take on these new robot guards? Do you think they’re as trustworthy as human security or are we moving too fast into a tech-driven safety zone? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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