Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Saturday, September 24, 2022
Topics covered in this issue…
• Why it’s risky to Google a Tech Support or Customer Service number
• How to request text message updates about your Amazon orders
• How to find out if a website that won’t load is really down
• The highest point in the entire state of Florida is just 345 feet above sea level
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Today’s quick tech tip….
Why it’s risky to Google a Tech Support or Customer Service number
In today’s world of high technology and online shopping, the odds are high that you’ll eventually need to contact a company’s Tech Support or Customer Service department.
While some issues can be handled online via either live chat or email, there are times when it becomes necessary to call them up on the phone.
This tip is a warning about using Google or another search engine to look up a company’s Tech Support or Customer Service number.
I’ve written about this topic before, but an email I received from a reader this morning prompted me to mention it again.
Long story short, this gentleman was looking for the Tech Support number of the company behind his antivirus software, and as we all tend to do these days, he turned to Google.
Unfortuantely, right at the top of the search results was a link to a company claiming to offer Tech Support on behalf of his antivirus provider.
When all was said and done the scammer had placed an unauthorized $50 charge on his credit card.
Thinking this was surely a scam, he checked the company’s profile with the Better Business Bureau, and sure enough, what he found was a mountain of complaints.
The problem here is scammers getting their fraudulent websites ranked highly in the search engines for searches that lots of people typically make, and often the fake sites will outrank the company’s official website for the terms “Tech Support” and Customer Service”.
That’s why you need to be extremely wary of any search result that doesn’t take you to a page on the company’s official website.
If you are already a customer of a company you probably know how to access its official website via their real URL.
Visit the site directly and look for a link labeled either “Tech Support”, “Support” or “Customer Service”. You’ll find the real number you need to call on those pages.
The reader I mentioned above was only taken for $50, and that amount was eventually credited back to his account. However, the next victim might not be so lucky. Don’t give the scammers a chance to take advantage of you.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…
• How to request text message updates about your Amazon orders
If you request them, Amazon will send you text messages informing you when each major step in regards to shipping and delivering your order has been completed. This post explains how to set it up.
• How to find out if a website that won’t load is really down
When a website you’re trying to visit refuses to load in your bowser you probably wonder whether the site is really down or if there’s a problem on your end that’s keeping the page from loading. This post explains how to quickly find out.
• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.
Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.
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Rick’s Daily Pick…
Jackery 240Wh Solar Generator w/ solar panel (#ad)
Are you prepared for the potential power outages that could well be coming your way this winter?
This top-rated 240 Wh solar generator / solar panel combo will keep your computer, phone and/or tablet powered up and running for hours.
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
The highest point in the entire state of Florida is just 345 feet above sea level
Florida is a pretty large state in terms of land area, but all that land is actually pretty “thin”.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• Windows 11’s 2022 Update is wreaking havoc with PC gamers
• Domain shadowing becoming more popular among cybercriminals
• Android’s Game Dashboard quietly expands to more devices
• Tesla owner refuses to pay over $21,000 for a new battery, gets locked out of his car
• Your iPhone 14 is now much easier to repair than last year’s model
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com