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The tactics used to fight credit card scams are getting more sophisticated all the time. Unfortunately, so are the tactics used by credit card scammers.More than 2.3 million cases of fraud and identity theft were reported in 2019, according to the Federal Trade Commission — an increase of 26% from five years earlier and 138% in a decade. Credit card-related scams accounted for a significant chunk of those cases, including more than 40% of identity theft reports. And those were just the cases that were reported to law enforcement and consumer protection agencies.Whether they’re putting a new spin on an old scam or inventing a new scheme, calling on the phone or reaching out over the internet, credit card scammers are always lurking and looking to strike. Knowing how the most common scams work and how to avoid falling for them can keep your money and your identity safe.Here are six common credit card scams to watch out for.1. The charity scamThis credit card scam is a particularly cruel violation of people’s good-hearted instincts to help.Right after a tragedy like a hurricane, flood or wildfire, scammers get to work, calling or emailing and appealing to people to help victims with a donation. They’ll often pretend to be from a reputable charity like the Red Cross or the Salvation Army.When a “charity worker” calls with a detailed, sad story and asks for help, it can be hard to say no. The pleas for funds are often presented as urgent, too, to get people to cough up their credit card numbers quickly.HOW TO AVOID THE CHARITY SCAMIf you’re inclined to give money to help after a disaster, it’s best to do it proactively by contacting a charity yourself. You can check whether a charity is legitimate by using the IRS’ tax-exempt organization search or a resource like Charity Navigator.If someone calls you seeking a donation, don’t give your credit card information, even if it seems legitimate. Write down any information they give you, then politely hang up. Search the web for the phone number and put quotation marks around the number in your search. Often, you’ll find that the number that called you has been previously been identified as a scam caller. If the charity is legitimate and you want to help, donate directly through its website.2. The hotspot scamIt’s common advice to be careful when using a public Wi-Fi network, since crooks could be monitoring these networks. But sometimes the network itself is a trap, carefully laid by credit card scammers who are waiting to pounce on your information.In this credit card scam, your smartphone or laptop finds a “public Wi-Fi hotspot,” and when you connect to it, you’re prompted for credit card information to pay for internet access. The hotspot is fake, and you’re actually giving your credit card information directly to the scammers. In other cases, the hotspot is free and does offer internet access, but the scammers watch your every move. They record passwords you enter, peek into your bank account when you check it and capture your data in other ways.HOW TO AVOID THE HOTSPOT SCAMIf you need to access public Wi-Fi at a restaurant or store, ask an employee for the correct network name and password information. Be wary of generic-sounding names like “Free Public Wi-Fi.” Avoid logging into your bank account or providing any sensitive information if you can.Another way to protect yourself is to use a VPN or virtual private network. This creates a secure connection you can use even on unsecured public networks.3. The credit card ‘sign-up farm’ scamVictims of this credit card scam are often willing participants, duped by the promise of easy money for helping generate what they’re told are legitimate credit card rewards. In reality, it’s a scam to rip off card issuers, often on a massive scale. In May, federal prosecutors in New Jersey charged two men with running an elaborate “sign-up farm” that cost American Express more than million.People running these scams recruit people with good credit and offer to pay them for the use of their Social Security numbers to open credit card accounts. The scammers rack up huge balances on the cards to generate rewards points, convert the points to cash, then cancel the purchases. In some cases, they don’t even bother canceling, and the victim is left on the hook.Victims are typically promised payments of ,000 to ,000 for the use of their information, although some never get paid. And they’re usually told that the spending on the cards will be legitimate, even though the whole point is to defraud the issuer. Victims can wind up responsible for huge balances, see their credit trashed and have their own credit card and airline rewards accounts frozen.HOW TO AVOID THE SIGN-UP FARM SCAMThe lure of easy money can be hard for anyone to resist, and even more so for those who are struggling financially. But it’s wise to assume that easy money doesn’t exist.The simplest way to avoid falling victim to credit card farming scams is to never give or sell your Social Security number or any personally identifiable information to someone else. To make sure no one is using your identity to open accounts without your knowledge, check your credit report for any irregularities.4. The interest rate scamMillions of people are familiar with this classic robocall scam. You answer a phone call, often from an unknown number, and a recorded message gives you the great news that you’re eligible to negotiate significantly lower interest rates on your credit card balances. The message claims to have inside connections to credit card companies and can work on your behalf to reduce your payments by thousands of dollars. There are no such connections — the whole thing is a setup to get you to reveal your credit card information.If your interest is piqued enough to continue listening, you’ll be taken to a live operator. The “helpful” representative will quickly ask you sensitive questions to harvest your personal data and credit card information.In a slightly more legitimate — but still costly — variation of this scheme, the caller contacts the credit card company and successfully lowers your rate, and you get charged hundreds or thousands of dollars for the service. The problem is that they aren’t doing anything you couldn’t have done yourself for free. You have just as much clout with the credit card company as a third party when it comes to lowering your interest rate. Your issuer may give you the option to transfer your balance to a different card that offers a lower APR.“If you’re looking to reduce the interest rate you’re paying on your credit card purchases, your best bet is to handle it yourself for free,” says the Federal Trade Commission. “Call the customer service phone number on the back of your credit card and ask for a reduced rate.”HOW TO AVOID THE INTEREST RATE SCAMIf you want to lower your credit card interest rate, reach out to the issuer directly. It won’t hurt you to ask, even if they say no.If you do get a robocall promising to cut your rates — or any other offer that sounds too good to be true — just hang up. Never give out or confirm sensitive information to someone who calls out of the blue. To reduce sales calls, put your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, then keep in mind that legitimate businesses adhere to the registry while scammers don’t.5. The overcharge scamThis credit card scam is gaining ground as fewer transactions are handled in cash and more shopping moves online. It goes like this: You get a call or a text telling you that your credit card was overcharged on a recent purchase. How helpful! The problem is that it isn’t true. The scammer will ask a bunch of questions intended to get at your personal information.According to the Better Business Bureau, this scam is especially convincing because the scammers will often address the target by name. And with more and more small, everyday purchases being put on credit cards, the vague “recent purchase” angle becomes more convincing.HOW TO AVOID THE OVERCHARGE SCAMDon’t give sensitive personal information over the phone. Hang up. Check your credit card statement. If something there seems out of whack, contact your credit card issuer yourself by calling the number on the back of your card.6. The skim scamIt was hoped that the widespread adoption of EMV chip technology would wipe out skimming, but it has proved persistent. In fact, the latest data from the credit scoring company FICO found that the number of payment cards compromised at merchant card readers and ATMs increased 10% in 2017.A skimmer is a small electronic device installed by crooks on card readers on gas pumps, ATMs and elsewhere. The skimmer reads the information from the magnetic stripe on your credit or debit card when you swipe or insert the card. They can be hard to detect, and some of the newer ones are all but impossible to see with the naked eye.Skimmers are especially prevalent in tourist-heavy areas during high season. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “it’s critical that people are aware of exactly what to look out for because each skimmer can defraud consumers up to a million dollars.”HOW TO AVOID THE SKIM SCAMThough skimmers are often well-concealed, sometimes you can tell that something looks off. Look for signs of tampering on ATM or gas station card readers, including devices attached on top of or beside the card slot. Move toward using a mobile wallet and contactless payments to avoid using your physical card.Check your account balances and transactions often. If you see something amiss, notify your credit card issuer right away to report the fraud.More From NerdWalletCan a Credit Card Company Lower My Credit Limit?Is It OK to Never Have a Credit Card?Today’s Definition of Financial Adulthood Is More Flexible Than EverErin Hurd is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: ehurd@nerdwallet.com. 9936

The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has been issuing frequent projections since March in an attempt to model the spread and impact of the coronavirus across the world.The models have been used by the CDC and White House coronavirus task force in an effort to better understand the potential number of deaths the coronavirus could cause.On Friday, the model added a new variable, one that could cause a steep decline of coronavirus deaths throughout the US. The IHME’s newest model, which predicts the number of coronavirus deaths in the US through the end of March, is now weighing the potential impact of vaccines on the virus.For those hoping for an immediate drop in hospitalizations and deaths caused by the coronavirus as soon as vaccinations begin later this month might be disappointed. The IHME's model shows the initial batch of vaccinations will have a relatively muted effect on deaths and hospitalizations initially. While by April 1, much of the general US population will likely not be fully vaccinated, many in the high-risk category should expect to vaccinated by then. How fast they get vaccinated will play a role in determining the number of coronavirus deaths in the US.As of Friday evening, there have been over 278,000 coronavirus-related deaths reported throughout the US, per Johns Hopkins University data. Without any vaccines reaching Americans, the IHME’s model projects a total of 548,000 would die from the coronavirus through April 1, meaning 270,000 deaths between now and then.If COVID-19 vaccines are distributed at expected levels, 9,000 lives would be saved by April 1, reducing the number of deaths between now and then to 261,000. But a rapid vaccine rollout – one that would vaccinate the high-risk population and begin to vaccinate the general population by the spring -- would result in 250,000 deaths between now and April 1.“Mass scale-up of vaccination in 2021 means we have a path back to normal life, but there are still a few rough months ahead,” said Dr. Christopher Murray, IHME director. “We must be vigilant in protecting ourselves at least through April, when, as our projections indicate, vaccines will begin to have an impact.”In the meantime, Murray says universal mask wearing and social distancing will save more lives than a potential vaccine in the next four months.“Especially in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s crucial for governments to impose or re-impose mandates that limit gatherings and require masks. Where the winter surge is driving spikes in infections, there will be many people who can still become infected and possibly die before the vaccine is fully rolled out,” said Murray.To see the IHME’s state-by-state projections for deaths, hospitalizations and cases, clickhere. 2790

The survivor of a cougar attack in the Cascade Mountains near Seattle is recounting a harrowing story that left a fellow cyclist dead.The King County Sheriff's Office says the two mountain bikers were attacked along a trail Saturday morning in North Bend, Washington. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and another one was taken to a nearby hospital. The victims have not been identified.The suspected animal was killed."Fish and Wildlife has euthanized the cougar that is believed to be responsible for killing one man and attacking another," the Sheriff's Office tweeted. 593

The White House defended President Donald Trump's Sunday tweet that included a video of his supporters yelling the phrase "white power" at protesters at a Florida retirement community.On Sunday morning, President Donald Trump retweeted a video that was reportedly taken at The Villages, a large retirement community in central Florida. At one point in the video, a man in a golf cart adorned with Trump flags yells "white power" at anti-Trump demonstrators.The protesters can also be heard in the video shouting profanities at Trump supporters and also calling Trump a "Nazi" and "racist."Trump included a message in his retweet of the video, writing, "Thank you to the great people of The Villages." The tweet was live for more than three hours before it was deleted from his feed.Though the tweet was deleted, it sparked condemnations from some members of his own party. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, called Trump's endorsement of the video "indefensible."In a statement on Sunday evening, White House spokesperson, Judd Deere defended the president's actions, saying that he "didn't hear" the racist language used in the video."President Trump is a big fan of The Villages. He did not hear the one statement made on the video. What he did see was tremendous enthusiasm from his many supporters," Deere said, according to CNN and The Associated Press. 1365

The Trump administration is extending a ban on green cards issued outside the United States until the end of the year and adding many temporary work visas to the freeze, including those used heavily by technology companies and multinational corporations. The administration is casting the effort as a way to free up jobs in an economy reeling from the coronavirus. A senior official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity estimated the restrictions will free up to 525,000 jobs for Americans. Through the first 60 days of the program, the senior administration official said the White House projects that the visa ban saved around 50,000 American jobs, but could not specify the type of jobs. The ban does not impact refugees or people already in the United States, a senior official said. The ban, while temporary, would amount to major restructuring of legal immigration if made permanent. 909