Emails: Scammers are getting smarter with emails and are actually using the real company logos on the correspondence, so at first and even second glance the email seems legitimate. But there are a few things they can’t fake. First, check out the address of the sender. You can do this by holding your mouse over the name. If the email is supposed to come from Amazon for example, the email might be misspelled as Amazzon, or the email might be a series of numbers and letters, or a suspicious name. Second, if the email appears to be about an invoice or an amount you owe, STOP. Go to the website itself (in this example Amazon) and log in to your account to make sure everything is okay. Most companies do not send you invoices by email so that in itself is suspicious. Third, be extra suspicious of all utilities, phone, gas, electric.
Instead of replying to these emails, go to the actual website and log in. If you don’t have an online membership with them, then pick up your phone and call your utility company.
Texts: Never reply to a text you don’t recognize as this will tell the scammer they have “A live one” on the line. A typical current scam for example is a text from Con Edison saying your bill is overdue, or needs attention and to call this number. If you call this number there is a scammer on the other side saying “Hello, Con Edison.” Instead go to the actual Con Edison website and get their real phone number. To make sure it is the actual website (yes, this is how bad it can get) you should either see https:// in the top bar (notice the S) or you will see a picture of a lock and if you put your mouse over it it will say secured site. This tip goes for all business websites.)
Phone: If you answer the phone and are in conversation with a person, beware of any time they are asking for a deposit, a down payment or anything to do with money. Remember, you don’t know this person despite who they say they are. THEY called YOU. It is perfectly acceptable to just hang up.