Think critically and avoid being scammed

I personally have never been a victim of a phone or computer scam. However, I have often been solicited to enroll, get on board, chance of a life time, lower your tax bill, lower your car insurance, lower medical bills, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure calls to name a few. Anything you may think of and there’s a site that will lower it for you AND save you money to boot!

But all kidding aside, not all phone or computer solicitations are “scams.” However, how does one detect a scam from a legitimate offering of service? I can only speak for myself on this issue.

First of all, use your head. If you don’t need or want something, the answer is simple: don’t buy it. Another great rule of thumb is “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

I have found that a great device for avoiding irritating and repetitive phone calls from unwanted solicitors is an answering machine. Most are very inexpensive and can save you from these irritating solicitations (as well as calls from irritating relatives!). If you have caller ID, it’s even easier.

Review the call before answering, which I’m sure we all do. If it’s someone you don’t know or a solicitation you don’t need, simply delete the call.
Computer solicitations are an entirely different matter. I’m a computer “geek” and would never offer advice on opening mail from a site I did not recognize.

I do know this: our Sun City Computer group is a great club to join, if you’re concerned with computer safety. I know a few of its members, and they are very knowledgeable in this area. Information concerning the club is listed in our Lifestyles magazine.

To name the many phone and/or computers scams out there would take up all the space in this publication and most are easily identifiable, if one uses common sense.

However, if any scams “pop” up in our area, rest assured I will let you know in this publication. The Huntley Police Department is always on top of these issues, and I know they will issue bulletins if there are scams in our area.

• Article by Bob Gienko for the NHN/NW Committee

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