Scam of The Week

A message pops up in your Facebook Messenger inbox from what appears to be an official Facebook account, “Meta Verified.” Unusually, the account name is misspelled as "Verrified," with an extra “r.” But what catches your attention is that the message says your Facebook account shows unusual activity. It includes a PDF attachment and warns that your account will be permanently deleted if you don't respond within 24 hours. The message includes the official Meta logo and states that it is encrypted, so at a glance, it seems real.

You receive a message on WhatsApp, a popular app for sending instant messages. It’s from someone you know, such as a colleague, a friend, or even a family member. They've sent over an attachment that appears to be a business document, like a billing statement, payment record, or an account notice. It's unusual for them to send you something like this, but since it's from someone you trust, you might think it’s safe to open it.

Imagine receiving an unexpected email from a well-known organization, such as Costco or Marriott, letting you know that you've been selected for an exclusive opportunity.

In this week's scam, cybercriminals are using fake purchase alerts to target Apple users. You receive what appears to be a genuine Apple email that says, "Your Apple Account information has been updated." It states that someone used your account to purchase an iPhone and includes a phone number to call to cancel the order. Since you didn't authorize this purchase, you may be tempted to call the number immediately.