As Technology grows, so does the way we interact with each other. With so much information available with just a quick search, people are able to learn so much about someone they've never met. Always stay aware, if it seems weird it is. Scam artists are just that, artists. They will try their hardest to get you to believe something they've made up. They have several ways they do this here are a few examples:

• They tell you you've won something and ask for personal information.
• They pretend to know someone close to you, and fake an emergency.
• They pretend to be the IRS and tell you to pay what you owe, in gift cards (if it seems weird, it is!)
• They impersonate someone you know or idol online to get several things (money, information, gifts, etc)
• They call pretending to be someone from a current or old job with orders from someone in a higher ranking position with strange instructions.
• They create a false sense of urgency or a fake stressful situation to force you into doing something out of panic.

A client lost $25,000 to a scam artist. Someone called the store pretending to be an owner, and gave a story on why he was calling and instructed him to download a third party messaging app. The employee followed all instructions from his "manager" and by the end of the scam the employee had deposited 25K into bitcoin wallets. These people are trained social engineers to make you do what they want. But there were several red flags that the employee ignored. Remember, if it seems weird, it is.

Here are some of the red flags:

• Instructed employee to download Third Party Messaging due to "manager" being in a call.
• Asked him to take money from store after hours.
• Asked him to pay in untraceable currency.

There are usually more than 1 red flag from these people. You just need to pay attention and have common sense. Always be aware, and never click on emails from people you don't know.