BUTLER-BREMER COMMUNICATIONS • 319 . 276 . 4458 • but l er-bremer. com Phone Scammers Use Phony Threats and Phony Promises To steal your money or identity (or both), phone scammers use all kinds of sneaky strategies. Unfortunately, they can be convincing if you aren’t aware of their “bag of tricks.” To help prevent you or someone you know from being conned, review these common phone scams and warn others: FBI Impersonator – The caller says they’re with the FBI and there’s a warrant out for your arrest or you need to pay money to avoid the forfeiture of your assets. Basically, they’re trying to scare you into wiring them money. Can You Hear Me? – It might be a scam if someone calls and simply asks, “Can you hear me?” These callers are trying to get you to say “yes” on a recorded line, so they can manipulate audio on their end and falsely claim you agreed to buy a product or service. If someone calls and asks you that specific question, it’s safer to say, “I can hear you fine.” The (Fake) IRS – You know it’s a scam if someone calls you claiming to be from the IRS and demanding some kind of payment. The IRS only gets in touch with people for matters like this through the mail with letters written on their official letterhead. Tech Support – Victims are called and told their computer has been infected with malware or other malicious software, and they need to buy a specific product (which is completely unnecessary) to fix the problem. This type of phone scam can cost victims hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. “Grandchild” Needs Help – Sadly, scammers take advantage of elderly people by preying on their trust and kindness. In one such scam, a person calls on a crackling phone line and claims to be their grandchild, saying they’re in serious trouble and need money sent immediately. Health Care and Insurance Fraud –The goal in these phone scams is to get sensitive data such as Social Security numbers and bank account information by posing as a representative of a health care or insurance company. They may offer free services or discounts on insurance premiums to tempt their victims. If you encounter a suspected phone scam or an abusive telemarketer, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Understanding the Two Main Types of Streaming Services There are 200+ streaming services now available, which can be overwhelming. However, it simplifies things to remember there are only two main types—live streaming services and on-demand streaming services. Live streaming services enable you to watch content online in real time. They’re often called cable replacement services since they promise to replicate the cable TV experience but with lower monthly bills. Most live streaming services provide at least a few live local channels as well as an assortment of cable networks, concerts, sporting events, comedy specials, and gaming events. Examples of live streaming services are YouTube TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Philo. On-demand streaming services offer extensive libraries of TV series, movies, and documentaries to subscribers for a monthly fee. Content can be watched on your own schedule and on any device. It’s easy to set up an account, and in most cases, you can start a free trial and cancel at any time. Popular on-demand streaming services include Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Disney+, Discovery+, and HBOMax. Visit the StreamNow section of our website at butler-bremer.com for help navigating through the many streaming options in devices and services.
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