Scam Calls

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Just a reminder for everyone:

I have received several of these phone calls myself recently, and it reminded me of this type of scam that can be very easy to fall for if you’re caught off guard.

If you receive a call claiming there is a charge of $XXX.XX on your account with a company, do not provide any personal information. Tell the caller that you will contact the company directly.

Do NOT call back the number they provide, and do NOT visit any website they give you.

Instead, go to the company’s official website using a bookmark you already have or by searching for the company yourself. Then use the phone number or online chat listed on their official website.

The company representative may ask for information such as your name or account number to verify your account. They can then confirm whether the charge is legitimate or let you know if no such charge exists.

Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly. They may tell you that your account will be closed, locked, or charged unless you act immediately. Take your time, stay calm, and verify the information independently.

If the situation is real and the company believes your account may be at risk, they can temporarily lock or restrict the account to protect it. If a caller threatens that your account will be locked unless you act immediately, don’t panic. A good response is, “Thank you for helping keep my account safe. I will contact the company directly to verify this.”

When in doubt, hang up and contact the company directly through their official website or customer service number. It is always better to spend a few extra minutes verifying a claim than to risk becoming a victim of fraud.

Please share this reminder with friends and family, especially those who may be less familiar with these types of scams.

Filed Under: Scams

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⚠️ Security Alert – Messaging Apps Being Hijacked

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⚠️ Security Alert – Messaging Apps Being Hijacked

No company will EVER ask for your verification code.

The FBI and CISA are warning about hackers targeting accounts on apps like Signal, WhatsApp, and other messaging apps.

🔍 How it happens

Scammers may message you pretending to be:
“Signal Support” or “WhatsApp Support”

They will ask for a verification code sent to your phone.

👉 If you give them that code, they can take over your account.

🔐 How to protect yourself

• Never share verification codes — EVER
• Be suspicious of “support” messages (real support won’t contact you first)
• Turn on 2-step verification / registration PIN
• Use a password manager (example: https://bitwarden.com/) for stronger, safer logins

🚨 If you think your account was hacked

• Re-register your number ASAP
• Remove all linked devices
• Change your security PIN
• Warn your contacts
• Report it: https://www.ic3.gov

⏱️ Act fast — the sooner you respond, the less damage they can do.

💻 If you need help securing your devices or accounts, feel free to reach out.
Robert’s Computer Service / IT
📞 864-494-6089
🌐 www.roberts-computer.com

📝 Summary based on:
https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2026/03/fbi-cisa-warn-of-russian-hackers-hijacking-signal-and-whatsapp-accounts

Scam alert AT&T rewards are about to expire on date.

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Several people are getting texts saying their AT&T reward points are about to expire. The message includes a link and usually starts with “Dear Customer.”

Looks similar to
“Dear Customer, Your AT&T account currently holds XX,XXX reward points scheduled to expire on date. Recommended redemption methods: – AT&T Rewards Center: {Shortened link} – AT&T Mobile App: Rewards section AT&T is dedicated to serving you.” The shortened URL led to https://att.hgfxp[.]??/???/, a website designed to look like an AT&T site in name and appearance.”

The link goes to a fake AT&T-looking website that asks for your phone number and personal info. Some people even get items shipped, but their information is stolen and later used for fraud or identity theft.

Watch for:
Generic greetings
Shortened or weird links
Urgent “act now” language

Best move: Don’t click the link. Go straight to the AT&T app or type att.com in your browser instead.

Posting this to help others avoid a big headache.

Filed Under: Scams

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After major storms

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After major storms, people often show up pretending to be contractors, insurance helpers, or utility workers. They may pressure you to act fast or ask for payment upfront.

Here’s how to protect yourself:

• Don’t pay cash or full payment upfront
• Ask for a written estimate and contract
• Verify licenses, insurance, and business info
• Be cautious of door-to-door offers
• Never share personal or banking information
• Contact your insurance company directly
• If someone shows up unannounced, simply say “I already have someone coming to look at it” and close the door. Even if you do not.

If something feels rushed or “too good to be true,” it usually is.

Stay safe, check before you trust, and protect your property and personal information.

— Robert’s Computer Service / IT Service
📞 864-494-6089
🌐 roberts-computer.com

Password Reset Emails — What They Mean & What to Do (All Websites)

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You might get an email that looks like this:

“Hi {username},
We got a request to reset your password.
If you ignore this message, your password will not be changed.
If you didn’t request a password reset, let us know.”

This applies to Instagram and ALL websites.

📌 If you DID request a password reset

Go ahead and complete the reset as normal.

📌 If you DID NOT request a password reset

Treat it with caution:

Do NOT click any links in the email

Open the app or website yourself by typing the address or using the official app

Check your security and login activity

If you reuse passwords anywhere, change them immediately on every site where that password was used

Always use a strong, unique password for each website

Turn on 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) whenever possible

🛡 Why This Matters

Even when a real company sends legitimate reset emails, scammers take advantage of the confusion by sending fake versions that lead to phishing websites designed to steal your login info.

Recently, in Instagram’s case, cybersecurity researchers reported data allegedly tied to millions of user accounts circulating online. While passwords were not included, situations like this often trigger waves of scam and phishing emails.

⚠ Final Takeaway

Getting a password reset email doesn’t automatically mean your account was hacked — but never trust unexpected emails with links. Always go directly to the site or app yourself.

If you would like to read more you can get to

Received an Instagram password reset email? Here’s what you need to know

Robert’s Computer
(864)494-6089
www.roberts-computer.com

⚠️ Summer Travel Alert: Protect Your Devices from “Juice Jacking”

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⚠️ Summer Travel Alert: Protect Your Devices from “Juice Jacking”

With summer travel season approaching—whether you’re flying, taking a train, or staying at a hotel—there’s more to consider than just your tickets, Real ID, and packing list. One growing cybersecurity threat travelers need to be aware of is “juice jacking.”

🔌 What Is Juice Jacking?
Juice jacking occurs when you plug your phone or device into a public USB charging station, such as those found at airport gates or hotel lobbies. Hackers can install a device between the USB port and the outlet that secretly:
Installs malware on your device
Steals sensitive data like banking info or passwords
Locks your phone and holds it for ransom
You may not even know it’s happening.

🛡️ How to Protect Yourself
To avoid becoming a victim, the TSA recommends the following precautions when charging on the go:
Use a TSA-approved power bank – charge your own battery ahead of time.
Carry a wall charger (“brick” or power-to-USB adapter) – use standard electrical outlets instead of public USB ports.
Use a USB data blocker – this device allows power through but blocks any data transfer at the hardware level.

Stay safe while trailing.

If you would like to read the hole story at https://currently.att.yahoo.com/tech/cybersecurity/articles/tsa-just-issued-security-warning-220000082.html

Robert Computer / IT Service LLC
(864)494-6089

Pass old cell phone to you young child

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I would like to bring to your attention a few important points regarding wireless phones and their capabilities in making emergency calls. According to the 911.gov website (F&Q), even wireless phones that do not have a subscribed service plan can still dial 911 and reach a live person in an emergency situation.
However, it is worth noting that when a call is made to 911 from an uninitialized wireless phone, the caller’s location is not delivered to the 911 call center. If the call is disconnected, the 911 center also cannot call back to obtain further information about the emergency.
For example, many older phones that have been given to children as toys can still initiate a 911 call. Therefore, it is recommended that parents remove the battery from these phones before giving them to children to avoid potential misuse.
If you are unsure about the capabilities of a specific wireless phone, I suggest referring to the relevant documentation or contacting the manufacturer for guidance.
This is what can happen if you / your kids dial 911 to many times?

If you call 911 too many times without a real emergency, serious consequences can happen, including:

Warnings or Fines: The police may give you a warning at first, but repeat non-emergency calls can lead to fines.

Criminal Charges: In many states, repeated misuse of 911 is considered a misdemeanor. You could be charged with abuse of emergency services, false reporting, or obstruction.

Delayed Help for Real Emergencies: You might tie up emergency lines, which can delay help for someone in a real crisis.

Police Visit: Officers might show up to check if everything is okay, especially if you’re calling often without reason.

Key Rule:

Only call 911 for real emergencies—immediate danger to life, health, or property (e.g., fire, crime in progress, serious injury, etc.). For non-emergencies, use your local police department’s non-emergency number instead.

Spartanburg City Non-Emergency Dispatch: 📞 864-596-2222

Spartanburg County Non-Emergency Dispatch: Main Office: 📞 864-503-4500

I hope that this information he very helpful to you about giving older cell phone to your child. Robert Eyler Robert’s Computer / IT Service

864-494-6089

Goodbye, Skype—Hello, Teams: Microsoft Consolidates Communication Under One Platform

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Microsoft has announced that it will retire Skype on May 5, 2025, marking a significant shift in its communication strategy. Acquired in 2011 for approximately $8.5 billion, Skype’s user base has declined over the years, with daily users dropping to 36 million by early 2023. In contrast, Microsoft Teams has experienced substantial growth, with a fourfold increase in consumer calling minutes over the past two years. Users are advised to transition to Teams within the next ten weeks or export their Skype data using the provided tools. This move underscores Microsoft’s commitment to consolidating its communication services under the Teams platform, reflecting evolving user preferences and technological advancements.

Robert Eyler

Owner

(864)494-6089

US Red Cross scam

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Here is a phishing email that I thought would be a good reminder of this kind of emails. The threat actor are using the U.S. Red Cross. This is what they are doing this time is sending an email title Red Cross Blood Drive. Then in the email would say something like download this file that is attached for information on the blood drive. If you get a popup with to read it click a button to disable macros so the attachment’s content can be shown. It will show you a list ;however, behind the since the hidden malware executes to steals your data from the computer.

If you get any file that you do not know who it is coming from or expecting a file that is asking you to disable any security items. Do not do it and just delete the file.

Owner / Tech
Robert’s Computer Service LLC
864-494-6089

Filed Under: Scams

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Warned of new malware on POS

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Manufacturers of point-of-sale (POS) devices have been warned of new malware that defeats the secure tap-and-pay capability of credit and debit cards. Researchers at Kaspersky say the latest version of the Prilex gang’s malware forces customers using infected POS devices to insert their cards into the payment devices. That way the malware can read transaction information hidden when customers wirelessly tap their cards. POS makers and distributors have to combat this advance.
When you do the tap-in-go and see “Contactless error, insert your card”

This is from https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/cyber-security-today-week-in-review-for-friday-february-3-2023/525172
or
this one has more detail to what happens and what to do

Prilex modification now targeting contactless credit card transactions

You can also go to https://www.roberts-computer.com/blog/
You can also read from the past apps that need to be uninstalled ASAP.

Robert Eyler
(864)494-6089