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Caribbean L 20 ife, Sept. 6, 2019 BQ
How thieves think
and work
“Scam Me If You Can” by Frank W.
Abagnale
c.2019, Portfolio/ Penguin
$19.00 / $25.00 Canada
337 pages
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
Your friend “Rachel” called today.
Seven times, she did, and you
answered two of them before you realized
that you were being robocalled
again. You’re usually pretty savvy about
not being fooled but lately, it seems
like the more you know, the better
scammers get at deception. So read the
new book, “Scam Me If You Can” by
Frank W. Abagnale, and
protect yourself.
You’ve heard the
horror stories: people
scammed out of their life
savings, businesses targeted
by ransomware,
computers hijacked with
malware, and you wonder
if you’re doing enough to
avoid becoming a victim
of technology thieves.
The answer to that is
“no” says Abagnale, who
was a scammer himself
for part of his young life,
boiler-room thieves are
constantly looking for
ways to get around technology
blocks, firewalls,
Book cover of “Scam
Me If You Can” by Frank
W. Abagnale.
and the like. They know exactly how to
find your personal information online
(it’s very easy), and they buy what’s not
a few clicks away. Chances are, you’re
already an open book on some database.
So what can you do?
First of all, recognize that safety is
fleeting: scammers know how to suss
out information better than you know
how to hide it. Also remember that if
you’re scammed, you’re not alone: in
2017, more than 16 million Americans
were victims of fraud.
Never let your guard down when
talking to strangers. In public, watch
your belongings at all times. Don’t fall
“under the ether” by becoming complacent
and if you feel pressured, walk away
or hang up. Question fees, especially
anything you’re asked to pay up-front.
Never, ever give personal information to
someone who calls you with a “deal.”
Those things may be commonsensical.
Abagnale goes on…
Lighten your wallet by carrying only
what you need today. Invest in the right
kind of shredder and shred everything.
Know how to hire a trustworthy banker,
accountant, IT person, and other service
workers. Learn what you can do to
protect your small business
from hacking and
ransomware. And as for
passwords, well, Abagnale
awaits the day we can
truly forget them, since
better security methods
are available…
Until that day arrives,
look for “Scam Me If You
Can” but don’t answer an
unrecognized phone call
or press “2” to be taken
off a list. Doing either is
a mistake, as you’ll learn
inside this informative,
important book.
Yes, it’s time to stop
hiding beneath your desk
from scams. Not to scare
you — though the information does
read like a high-tech horror novel —
but author Frank Abagnale wants his
readers to know how thieves think and
work and how to build a virtual wall
around personal and business data. He
writes truthfully, in plain talk, and if
you’re not thrown into action by his
useful advice, the cautionary tales he
tells will do it.
“Scam Me If You Can” is the kind of
book of which to buy multiple copies:
one for you, one for your parents, the
office, and for anybody who holds your
information. Read it, share it, protect
yourself, or get scammed. It’s your call.
“Scam Me If You Can” author Frank W. Abagnale. Jeff rey Langlois
Medicaid Health Plan
1-855-GO-AMIDA (1-855-462-6432), TTY 711
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