FBI Tech Tuesday: Tech Support Fraud [AUDIO]

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Tech Support Fraud [AUDIO]

This is a scam in which the fraudster tries to convince you that you need his help fixing your computer or other device. He claims you have some dreaded – and usually non-existent – problem. He will ask you to pay him with a credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer, gift card or even virtual currency. Once you do, he says he just needs you to give him remote access to your device, and he will have that pretend-problem fixed in no time.

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Elder Fraud Part 2

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Elder Fraud Part 2

We are looking at a different kind of financial fraud by someone who is close to the victim. This can be a relative, caregiver or other acquaintance who takes advantage of a senior's trusting nature or declining health and cognitive abilities. In fact, the Department of Justice believes about a quarter of all older Americans who are subject of a fraud attempt will actually be victimized.

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Elder Fraud

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Elder Fraud

An estimated 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day ... creating a large pool of potential victims for fraudsters looking to cash in on seniors' savings accounts. In fact, the Department of Justice estimates that older adults lose more than $3 billion each year to financial scams.

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Defending Against W-2 Theft

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Defending Against W-2 Theft

We are still a good month away from April's tax filing deadline -- but this is prime time for scam artists looking to cash in on your personal tax information. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center recently issued an updated warning for businesses and employees to be on the watch for W-2 theft. If a cyber thief gets ahold of your W-2, he now has the ability to file your tax return -- and get your refund -- before you do. He also has access to a great deal of personally identifiable information including your Social Security number... and that can lead to a whole host of other frauds.

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Digital Defense with Robust Passwords

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Digital Defense with Robust Passwords

If you are like most of the rest of us -- remembering the 50,000 passwords you are required to use each day can be overwhelming. So overwhelming, in fact, that many people just use the same password -- or a variation of one -- over and over again. Regardless of how many special characters, numbers and capital letters that you put into it -- it is still the same password over and over again.

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Digital Defense Against Ransomware at Home

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Digital Defense Against Ransomware at Home

This week, we talk about the dangers that the average person faces from ransomware at home.

The set-up scenario is the same: the fraudster either gets you to click on a bogus link or attachment in your email to download malware onto your system -- or he is "seeding" legitimate websites with the malware. Either way, this malicious software takes over your system and locks it. You risk losing access to precious family photos, financial information and more.

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Defending Against Ransomware Targeting Businesses

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Defending Against Ransomware Targeting Businesses

Even if it hasn't already happened to you or your company -- you probably know someone who has experienced a ransomware attack. They can be devastating to any business -- whether a Fortune 500 corporation or a mom-and-pop local store. Hospitals and government agencies - including school districts, university systems, police departments, cities and counties -- are all potentially vulnerable as well.

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Defending Against Scams Targeting the Deceased

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FBI Tech Tuesday: Defending Against Scams Targeting the Deceased

This time of year you are likely seeing all kinds of ads on social media for the latest new gadget, drug or breakthrough to help you lose weight or get in shape. The before-and-after photos are stunning -- if that person can do it, as the story goes, you can, too! The best part -- you often don't have to diet or work out. Shell out a few dollars, and the new you will be shopping for bathing suits soon.

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FBI Warns Against Diet Scams

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FBI Warns Against Diet Scams

This time of year you are likely seeing all kinds of ads on social media for the latest new gadget, drug or breakthrough to help you lose weight or get in shape. The before-and-after photos are stunning -- if that person can do it, as the story goes, you can, too! The best part -- you often don't have to diet or work out. Shell out a few dollars, and the new you will be shopping for bathing suits soon.

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Building A Digital Defense Against Spectre & Meltdown

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Building A Digital Defense Against Spectre & Meltdown

Welcome to the Oregon FBI's Tech Tuesday segment. This week, building a digital defense against the latest cyber threat presented by the vulnerabilities in your computers and phones.

In recent days, there have been a number of media reports about two major flaws that are being called "Meltdown" and "Spectre". Almost all desktop computers, laptops, servers and cell phones are affected. These vulnerabilities could potentially allow hackers to access passwords, encryption keys and other sensitive data stored on your devices.

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Building A Digital Defense with your New Year's Resolutions

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Building A Digital Defense with your New Year's Resolutions

Beginning-of-the-year resolutions are hard to make and even harder to keep. So, this week, we want to talk about a few easy-to-do things that you can accomplish -- taking on just a bit at a time. If you are like me, it is easy to forget -- so pull out your calendar and make a note to do one thing a week for the next month.

First, start with your firewall. That is a piece of hardware or software that keeps hackers or other unwelcome guests out. Often in a single computer set-up, that firewall is built into your operating system. For networked computers -- the router that connects them all together can serve as the firewall. Your job this week is to do some research on what you already have and whether you need to add any further protection. Either way, make sure that the firewall you have or get is actually turned on. In many cases, it is possible to disable the firewall -- and doing so could leave you at risk.

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