TechEase

This week we covered SIM swap and port-out scams, where criminals steal your phone number to break into your bank account and email. Swipe through for a quick recap: how the scam works, the warning signs, and the five steps that protect you.

Save this and share it with someone who could use it. Questions? Call us at (210) 550-6884.

If your phone suddenly loses all service for no reason, do not wait to see if it comes back. Call your carrier from a different phone right away and tell them your number may have been swapped without your permission.

If you need help setting a carrier PIN, turning on number lock, or switching to a safer authentication app, we are happy to walk you through it in your own home.

Call or text (210) 550-6884 or visit techeasetyler.com to get started.

You cannot stop every scam, but these five steps make your phone number a much harder target.

🔒 Set a PIN or passcode on your carrier account so nothing can change without it.
🔒 Ask your carrier about a port freeze or number lock feature.
🔒 Switch to an authenticator app like Google Authenticator instead of text codes.
🔒 Think twice before sharing your birthday or hometown on social media.
🔒 Use a separate email address for banking that is not publicly known.

Most of these take five minutes and are free. More tips at techeasetyler.com.

Most of us think of our phone number as just a phone number. To criminals, it is the key to your email, your bank account, and your identity, and there is a scam that lets them steal it without ever touching your phone.

It is called a SIM swap or port-out scam, and the FBI reported over $48 million in losses from it in a single year. We broke down exactly how it works and the warning signs to watch for.

Full story: techeasetyler.com/r/simswap

Questions? Call us at (210) 550-6884.

This week we covered the five newest scams hitting East Texas families, from AI voice cloning to hacked Facebook messages. Swipe through for a quick recap of each one and the five habits that protect you from all of them.

Save this and share it with someone in your family. Questions? Call us at (210) 550-6884.

If you or someone in your family has already been targeted by one of these scams, do not wait to act. Hang up, call your bank on the number on the back of your card, and let us know if you need help locking down your accounts or your phone.

We come right to your home in Tyler and walk through it with you, step by step, no jargon and no judgment.

Call or text (210) 550-6884 or visit techeasetyler.com to get started.

You do not need to memorize every scam out there. These five habits protect you from almost all of them.

🛡️ Pause before acting. Scammers rush you on purpose, so slow down.
🛡️ Never buy gift cards for anyone who calls or texts you. No real agency accepts them.
🛡️ Hang up and call back on a number you already know, never one they give you.
🛡️ Make a family code word for real emergencies.
🛡️ Report anything suspicious at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Print this list and keep it by the phone. More tips at techeasetyler.com.

Scammers are using artificial intelligence to clone voices now, and it is already happening to families here in Tyler. The phone rings, it sounds exactly like your grandson, and he says he needs money right now.

We put together the five newest scams hitting East Texas families, from AI voice cloning to fake QR codes to hacked Facebook messages asking for cash. Knowing what to look for is your best defense.

Full story: techeasetyler.com/r/5newscams

Give us a call at (210) 550-6884 if something does not feel right.

This week we covered the romance scam targeting recently widowed seniors right here in East Texas. Swipe through for a quick recap: the five warning signs of a scammer, how to protect yourself online, and who to call if it has already happened to you or someone you love.

Save this and share it with someone who might need it. Questions? Call us at (210) 550-6884.

If someone you met online has asked you for money, stop and call someone you trust before sending anything. No real partner ever asks for money before you have spent real time together in person.

If this has already happened, contact your bank right away and file a report with the Smith County Sheriff. We are also happy to sit down with you or your family, check privacy settings, and talk through whether someone you have met online seems legitimate.

Call or text (210) 550-6884 or visit techeasetyler.com. We come to your home in Tyler.