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Scammers are always on the lookout for new and creative ways to vacuum money from your wallet. Today on MoneyWise, we’ll reveal the latest scams to watch out for involving your smartphone. If you’re like most people, your phone contains personal and banking information that, if fallen into the wrong hands, could cost you a lot of money, not to mention time and headaches. BE A GOODBUT SMARTSAMARITAN! One of the latest smartphone scams involves a stranger coming up to you on the street and asking to use your phone for an emergency. Of course you want to help, so you hand over your phone. But later you discover that the person you were trying to help stole from your bank account using a money transfer app like Venmo or Zelle. It takes only seconds to do. Here’s how to avoid this scam: You shouldn’t give a stranger your phone for any reason. Instead, offer to call the number for them and give a message while keeping the stranger at arm’s length. If you sense possible danger, don’t be afraid to decline to help. You can be polite and firm at the same time. BEWARE OF FAKE APPS Another scam involves look-alike apps. They’re apps that look and possibly act like the real ones, but they’re really malware that will snatch your personal and financial information. Other look-alike apps might track your location using your phone’s GPS. Then the scam artists knows when you leave the house, making it easy pickings for a burglary. Another look-alike app might contain ransomware that will lock your phone or encrypt your data until you pay the scammer a ransom. You can avoid look-alike apps by only downloading apps from trusted sources, like the official app store on your iPhone or Android device. If you are the victim of ransomware, and if it was downloaded by clicking a link, take a picture of the message or page - if your phone still allows you to. Then turn off your phone and take it to an IT professional who might be able to defeat the ransomware and turn control of your phone back to you. BEWARE OF FAKE FREE GIFT Another smartphone scam targets Verizon customers. You may receive a text, seemingly from Verizon, saying, Bill paid. Thank you. Here’s a little gift for you. Then there’s a link that takes you to a fictitious website. There you might be told that in order to receive your gift you have to give your name, address, phone number, and social security number. You wouldn’t think anyone would fall for that, but some do, only to have their identity stolen. Always beware of free gifts. If you receive a text like that, call Verizon or whoever your carrier is and ask if it’s legitimate. When in doubt, never click a link. AVOID THE TECH SUPPORT SCAM Next there’s the tech support scam. The scammer poses as a technician from your carrier who wants to fix a fake problem with your phone. Here’s how you know this is a scam: - You didn’t reach out to tech support. - The so-called technician is very pushy. - They ask for remote access to your phone. - The technician insists that you wire money, use a gift card or a money transfer app. When in doubt, call your carrier to verify authenticity. If you’ve already been scammed by a fake technician, change any passwords you might have given the scammer and notify your bank or credit card issuer to block any transactions with that individual. LISTENER QUESTIONS On today’s program, Rob also answers listener questions: ●After pulling money out of the stock market in 2020, is now a good time to reinvest in stocks? ●Is it wise to take money out of an investment account to pay off a mortgage? ●How do you manage your retirement resources if you don’t play to entirely retire? ●Would it be wise to tap into your home’s equity to buy an investment property? RESOURCES MENTIONED ●Find a certified Kingdom Advisor Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them toQuestions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website atMoneyWise.orgwhere you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. Like and Follow us on Facebook atMoneyWise Mediafor videos and the very latest discussion!Remember that it’s your prayerful and financial support that keeps MoneyWise on the air. Help us continue this outreach by clicking theDonate tab on our websiteor in our app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29