👀Don’t click that "Refund" link. Scammers are spoofing Amazon, Costco, and Walmart with fake recall alerts.
💡Remember: Real recalls only involve a return, getting a repair, or disposing of the item.
Learn more via @aarp.org: www.aarp.org/states/pennsylvania/product-recall-scams-are-on-the-rise/
🍪 While you can’t bake a cookie in 9 seconds, you can become a cyber smart cookie in 9 seconds.
Protect your information online by pausing for 9 seconds before clicking or sharing a suspicious link.
An announcement graphic with a dark blue background and yellow text that reads: "Google expands 'Results About You' privacy feature. This free, automated tool can help identify and remove your personal information from Google search results." Above the text is an illustration of a magnifying glass over a laptop screen.
Google’s "Results About You" tool just got a massive upgrade to help manage your personal data online.
Beyond your email and address, the dashboard can now scan for your Social Security number, driver’s license, and passport info.
Learn how to set it up: www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Scammers being honest? Only for April Fool’s. Too bad scams aren’t always this easy to spot…
But let’s be real: scams are getting smarter and harder to catch. Before you click, download, or share, always remember to Take9.
Accidentally deleted an important file? It happens. Backing up your data regularly helps keep the important stuff safe, so one mistake doesn’t mean it’s gone for good.
Learn more at getcybersmart.org
#GetCyberSmart2026
#Take9
#CyberCivilDefense
#WorldBackupDay
"Work from home" sounds like a dream, until a scammer turns it into a nightmare.
If a job offer feels too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your gut and:
💻 Look up the company to verify it’s real.
👤 Check if the recruiter actually works there.
✅ Confirm messages are from a company domain.
The scam landscape has shifted: Scam emails ➡️ scam ads 📈
According to The Media Trust, 60% of malware in 2025 came through ads.
✋Take9 and verify the link before you click.
🚨Report scams via the FTC.
Learn more via @businessinsider.com.
🏆 Scammers love playing a part to get your data. Before you let a text win "Best Actor," take 9️⃣ seconds to spot these red flags:
🚩 Large group threads with unknown numbers
🚩 Messages that seem like a mistake ("Hi, is this [Name]?")
🚩 Urgent requests asking you to click a link
Question for the group: how many 9-second pauses does it take to finish a book?
Scammers work overtime during tax season.
Stay one step ahead with these tips. ✅
🚨Listen to Talia's story about a scam that is catching people every day. Watch and make sure it doesn’t happen to you!
AI overviews offer quick answers, but scammers are planting fake info (like phony support numbers) to game the system. 🕵️♀️
Outsmart the bots:
✋ Pause and Take9.
🔎 Verify the details via the company’s own website.
🍪 To help you be be a cyber smart cookie, every cybersecurity professional wants to leave you with this crumb of advice:
Using unique, long passwords is key to protecting your accounts.
QR code scams are on the rise. Here’s how to spot the red flags:
🚩Jumbled URL? If the link preview looks like nonsense, don't tap.
🚩Early ask? If it demands a password or card immediately, close the tab!
🚩Patch job? If it looks like a QR sticker is layered over the original code, don't scan it.
If your boss sends an urgent request, do this:
✋ Pause. Scammers love a rush.
💬 Don't reply! Contact them on a separate app to verify.
🗣️Oversharing is for group chats, NOT random apps! What’s one in-app permission you want to restrict? Ours is contacts… why would our birdwatching app need those?
AI attacks have more than doubled since last year. Scammers are using AI to get personal, but we’re not playing their game. 🚫
⬇️ Remember these 2️⃣ moves to stay one step ahead.
✅ Check the vibe: If it feels urgent, it’s likely a scam.
✅ Level up security: Use multi-factor authentication or passkeys.
Your valentine might steal your heart this Valentine’s Day, but with the help of a passkey, online scammers won’t be able to steal your personal data.
#ValentinesDay #Love
The last thing you want to deal with in a power outage is a scammer!
Utility SCAMMERS may:
❄️ Request your personal information
❄️ Offer to “reimburse” you for the power outage
Utility COMPANIES won’t:
❄️ Request payment to restore your power
❄️ Call unless you report an issue
2026 is the year of the… software update! Amira, Take9’s very own cybersecurity expert, explains why in the first episode of our “Be a Cyber Smart Cookie” series ▶️
‼️Phishing scams are more common over holiday weekends.
Scammers THINK it’s harder for companies to detect their tricks while staff is OOO.
Your brain 🧠 can outsmart scams 365 days a year. Before you click weird links, Take 9 seconds to pause and think first.
Real talk. Did you know a passkey can help protect you from identity theft?
Passkey logins use a fingerprint, Face ID, or saved PIN to help make your personal info harder for someone to steal. This Identity Theft Awareness Week, set up a passkey to keep your info secure!
Scammers wish they were you 🫶 and they’ll do anything to get access to your personal info.
Don’t fall for their fake “reset” emails. Just ignore them. 💅
THEN go into your account settings and turn on two-factor authentication.
Moment of silence for the scam. 🪦
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) lets YOU protect your logins… and your peace!
Pro Tip: While a text code is the easiest, using a third-party authenticator app like Microsoft Authenticator or Authy offers more security against common text scams.
Want to be like Craig? Do what he does: Take 9 seconds before opening weird links. Our very own @craignewmark.bsky.social sat down with @fastcompany.com to talk all things cyber… ⬇️⬇️ www.fastcompany.com/91467939/craigslist-foun...
2026 Resolution: Protect yourself and your data online!
Pause and Take 9 seconds before clicking on a suspicious link or a scammy popup to protect yourself against online frauds and scams.
Use the momentum of the new year to boost your digital defenses with quick, easy actions like:
Turning on Multi-Factor-Authentication
Setting up a password manager
Deleting online accounts you don’t use
Fake retail sites and phone calls from individuals posing as customer service agents commonly target consumers during the holiday season.
Read more 👉 www.techrepublic.com/article/news...
🚩 A new Mastercard survey found 48% of shoppers would ignore security red flags for a deep discount, and 72% still buy from unfamiliar sites, even when they believe they’re being cautious.
🚨 Heads up! There’s a new scam for you to outsmart.
According to the FBI, scammers are sending texts that claim they’ve kidnapped loved ones. They’ll send photos or videos that look real and demand immediate payment. Don’t panic, and don’t get fooled!
