TULSA, Okla. — Despite all of the high-tech scam threats out there nowadays, the warning remains the same for old-school scams such as shoulder surfing.
During the hustle and bustle of a busy and hectic holiday shopping season one year ago, two shoppers, a mother and daughter, were attacked by scammers.
“It’s very frustrating, it’s very scary, not only frustrating, but scary.”
Brooke said she wants to get the word out, not only for this holiday shopping season but when out buying any time of the year.
“They told us we could get another 25% off if we apply for their credit card, I was ‘OK, cool. What’s it going to hurt? The worst they could say is no.'”
The worst was not just the no answer she got. It was what happened later that day when she discovered two fraudulent charges through her debit card.
“I’m like what in the world?” Brooke said.
Security experts say it could just be what they call old-fashioned shoulder surfing: a scammer unknowingly peering, watching over your shoulder. They can strike when filling out a credit application at a store counter, or even if you’re just paying with a current credit for a debit card.
“My debit card info is out there, my social security number is out there, my date of birth is out there, anything this person needs to really genuinely to be me, is out there,” Brooke said.
Indeed, that is scary, Brooke reminds us. She worries there may be a single parent out there, struggling just to make Christmas merry, for their children.
“I just didn’t…
