Arr, ye scurvy dog Andy Cohen be swindled in a mighty costly bank scam, landlubbers be laughin'!
2024-01-25
Avast ye, mateys! Andy Cohen be shoutin' from the crow's nest, bein' robbed o' his doubloons an' precious secrets by scurvy scallywags. Beware, me hearties, these bilge rats be plunderin' all they can from yer coffers an' devices!
Andy Cohen, the host of Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," recently fell victim to an imposter scam where he was scammed out of a large sum of money by someone pretending to be from his bank. Cohen shared his story on TV, social media, and his podcast in order to raise awareness and prevent others from falling into the same trap. Imposter scams involve someone pretending to be someone you trust, such as a government official or a bank employee, in order to trick you into giving them money or personal information. These scammers may use fake names, phone numbers, email addresses, or websites to deceive their victims. They may also use threats, promises, or emotional appeals to pressure people into acting quickly. Imposter scams are the most common type of fraud reported by consumers in the U.S., according to the Federal Trade Commission. Cohen's ordeal began when he lost his bank card and received an email that looked like it was from his bank's fraud alert system. He clicked on the link in the email, entered his username and password, and unknowingly gave the scammers access to his bank account. The scammers then asked him to sign in to his Apple ID, but he realized it was a red flag and closed the browser. However, it was too late as the scammers had already gained control of his phone and bank account. They asked him to read back some codes, which were actually wire transfers from his accounts to the scammers. The scammers also activated call-forwarding on his phone, redirecting incoming calls from his real bank to them. Cohen reported the incident to the police, but the money wired out of his account was generally not recoverable. He shared some tips to avoid imposter scams, such as checking the sender's email address, not letting scammers rush or pressure you, and being cautious of phone calls asking for personal information. It is also important to have antivirus protection on devices, use strong and unique passwords, install updates regularly, and be cautious of fake emails or requests to sign in to online accounts. In case of identity theft, change passwords on another device, review bank statements, use fraud protection services, report breaches to official agencies, and alert contacts. Taking immediate action is crucial when becoming a victim of identity theft. By following Cohen's advice and the FTC's recommendations, people can protect themselves from imposter scams.