By Jarren Ringle
Do you ever get an urgent email or text message saying you are out of “cloud” storage and your files will soon be erased? It might appear to be a real alert, and you certainly don’t want to lose all your photos or documents. You aren’t sure how much storage you have, are using, or if you even use the cloud storage identified in the alert. You don’t know what to do, but there is a link in the email or text that you can click to get help. Do you think you will get help if you click that link?
If you answered, “NO,” you got it right. If you clicked the link, you are probably sorry you did.
On July 2nd, the Federal Trade Commission published an article titled “Are You Really Out of Cloud Storage or Is That Message a Scam?” Based on the article, you are certainly not alone if you received such a warning. It seems like it is happening regularly…even daily.
What to do if you receive a warning?
The first thing to do is take a deep breath. Scammers use a sense of urgency as leverage to make you act without thinking. A real service provider will not send you a scary email or text out of the blue. If you are running low on storage, you will likely receive several warnings, and they won’t threaten you with immediate action.
Ask yourself if the cloud storage service is one that you use? Apple devices use iCloud storage by default. Android devices use Google Drive as cloud storage by default. Windows PCs use OneDrive as cloud storage. You can buy cloud storage from other services, but you will be billed for the storage, and you should know that. If the cloud storage mentioned in the alert isn’t one you use, it is certainly a scam trying to get you to engage with the scammers so they can steal your credentials, infect your device with malware, or actually get you to pay them for a fictitious service.
Finally, you can check how your device’s storage is being used. Most devices (Apple, Android, & Windows) will show you the storage you are using on the device and in the cloud. It varies by device type, but the settings app is usually where you can find it.
The Federal Trade Commission has a newsletter you can subscribe to that will keep you informed and educated in our ever-changing world of cybercrime.
You can report a scam as shown below:
- Forward the email to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org
- Report phishing text messages on the messaging app you use or forward the text message to SPAM (7726).
- Report the phishing attempt to the FTC website at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Don’t let a sense of urgency cause you to make rushed decisions. Take time to figure things out before acting.
Jarren Ringle is a member of SourcePoint and a volunteer instructor. SourcePointers come to Jarren for tutelage on their tablets, laptops, and the most popular of all devices – cell phones. He teaches various technology classes throughout the year including one-on-one sessions and group classes. Jarren also volunteers at the Delaware County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. With many years of project management experience in various technology fields, he enjoys helping others with technology.
Technology 1:1 Assistance: Jarren Ringle provides guidance on technology in a 45-minute time slot. Do you have questions regarding a cell phone, PC, laptop or tablet? Share what the device is and what your question is upon registration so that Jarren can be better prepared to help. >> Schedule your 1:1