Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they trick individuals into sharing personal information, often by impersonating companies you know and trust. From misleading Google search results to scam calls and phishing emails, these tactics are designed to look legitimate and trick you or to create an urgency that leads to hasty decisions.

The first step in avoiding these scams is understanding how they work.

Misleading Search Results, Fake Websites and Deceptive Sponsored Ads

It’s common to use Google or Bing search to find a company’s website or customer support phone numbers. However, scammers are counting on this habit and they’re using search engines, fake websites, and deceptive sponsored ads to trick customers into calling fraudulent numbers or visiting illegitimate sites.

How Scammers Use Search Engines to Mislead You

Scammers often create fake websites that closely resemble legitimate companies. These sites may copy real logos, layouts, or wording, making it difficult to distinguish between the real and fake sites. These fake websites are designed to trick you into interacting, such as entering passwords or card information. Scammers can then collect this information and use it to access your account or make unauthorized purchases.

Plus, with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), scammers can even push these fake sites, and their phone numbers listed on them, higher in the search results – sometimes, even above the company’s official website and number!

How Sponsored Ads and Results Add Another Layer of Confusion

Sponsored ads and paid search results are also a tool for scammers to use. These ads can appear at the very top of your search results and are designed to look like legitimate company listings. They use key phrases like “local internet,” or “internet in…,” making it easy to confuse with real listings.

Clicking these ads or calling the numbers listed may:

• Lead you to a fake website.
• Prompt you to call a number that connects you with an individual impersonating a company.

What to watch for:

• Vague language in the ad or result that doesn’t clearly identify the company and its services.
• Promotions that seem too good to be true or are unreasonably expensive.
• Early requests for personal, payment or account information.
• A claimed affiliation between two companies.

How to protect yourself:

• Sponsored ads and results aren’t verified by the company they reference. Before clicking or calling, confirm the URL matches the company you are looking for.
• Double check website addresses for spelling errors or unusual formatting. You also want to check that a website is secure by looking for the https:// or little padlock next to the URL.
• If you know the company’s official website, visit it by directly typing it into the address bar.
• When contacting a company, use the contact information listed on their official website. You can also usually find contact information on billing statements.
• Don’t rely solely on search engine results for phone numbers.

Scam Calls

Another common scam involves unsolicited phone calls claiming to be from companies you know and trust, such as your internet or electric provider. These calls are designed to catch you off guard and pressure you into sharing sensitive information.

Scammers may say:

• Your service needs to be changed or upgraded immediately.
• A limited-time offer is about to expire.
• The company is going out of business, and you must transfer services.
• Your provider is partnering with another company.
• Your account will be disconnected unless immediate action is taken.

Pro Tip: If a caller pressures you to act immediately, that’s a red flag. Hang up and contact the company directly using a known phone number to confirm whether the call was legitimate.

Phishing Emails and Fake Notifications

Another tactic used to target customers is one you might be very familiar with – phishing emails. These emails may appear to be:

• Billing notices.
• Service outage alerts.
• Account verification requests.
• Giveaways.

They often include links or attachments that lead to fake login pages or download malware. It’s best to avoid clicking on any links from an email you are not expecting and report these as spam.

Stay safe by:

• Not clicking on links or attachments from unexpected emails.
• Carefully checking the sender’s email address.
• Remembering that legitimate providers will never ask for passwords or payment details via email.

Pro Tip: Hover over links before clicking. If the web address looks unfamiliar, misspelled, or doesn’t match the company’s official domain, don’t click, it’s likely a phishing attempt.

What FOCUS Broadband Customers Should Know

Scam tactics continue to evolve, but staying informed can help protect you. Some of the scams described above are tactics that FOCUS Broadband customers have experienced firsthand.

Here’s what we want you to know:

FOCUS Broadband will never:

• Call you using a toll-free number. Legitimate calls will come from a North Carolina area code (910) with a Brunswick County prefix (755 or 754).
• Call from an overseas third-party call center. Our call centers and representatives are based in the United States.
• Tell customers they are required to switch to another internet service provider.
• Request personal or account information during unsolicited calls.
• Change your bill amount or due date unexpectedly or without advance notice.
• Email asking you to upgrade or update your email account.
• Require you to sign up to enter a giveaway.
• Claim to be partnering with national providers like Spectrum or AT&T.

If you ever question an email, phone call, or online ad, trust your instincts. Do not provide personal information or click links. Instead, contact FOCUS Broadband directly using official contact information listed on our website and ask one of our representatives to verify its legitimacy.