--- title: "Scam Alert: Watch Out for Subscription Renewal Fraud" description: The email says your subscription's up for renewal, but what's likely happening is a scammer's on the prowl. Here's how to keep your money safe from them. image: https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-02-05T143854.643.jpg --- [![MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png?width=464&name=MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png "MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2")](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) Filter by Category** - [Show All](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) - [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security) - [Personal Finance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/personal-finance) - [Auto](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/auto) - [Business](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/business) - [Credit Score](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-score) - [Home](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/home) - [Credit Cards](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-cards) - [Life Changes](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/life-changes) - [Insurance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/insurance) - [Investments](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/investments) Filter by Category** - [Show All](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) - [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security) - 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It's a fresh twist on an old scam using the start of a new year as a ruse, a time when people think about renewing subscriptions. But it's also a typical social engineering scam designed to trick victims into sharing personal information with an "employee" of a company that seems legitimate, like Norton, Comcast, [Apple](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-to-spot-a-scam-email-from-apple), or Microsoft. When these "employees" succeed at getting their target either to grant them a Remote Desktop connection to their computer or divulge sensitive information during a phone call, they then use the connection and information to drain the victim's financial assets. In the cases we've seen, the victims reached out to the fraudsters using a phone number from an email that looked legitimate to them. The fake employees offered to help enable a license key for the software, requiring remote access to the computer, something the victim agrees to. At this point, the criminals can ask questions that make it easy for them to do things like install [malware](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/protect-your-computer-from-malware), get access to non-public personal information, or even ask the victim to log into their financial accounts. They've also asked our members to take actions like purchasing gift cards to send to specific addresses. We're happy to report that in the cases we've seen, our members shut down the conversations when they realized that sending gift cards to a major U.S. company made no sense. The criminals who are scamming victims aren't always using subscription renewals as a ruse. A Hanscom FCU employee recently received an email from "Comcast," urging him to click on a link to "revalidate" his account because it had been compromised. The only thing valid about the email is that it was [phishing ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/protect-yourself-with-free-fast-online-fraud-protection)for our employee's personal information. One way to tell is to look at the return address in the email's header, which can look "phishy," as this one does in the example below: ![Screenshot_20210205-103204_Xfinity Connect_2](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_20210205-103204_Xfinity%20Connect_2.jpg?width=269&name=Screenshot_20210205-103204_Xfinity%20Connect_2.jpg) So if you get an email or text from Norton, Microsoft, Apple, or any other company that provides subscription-based services warning you that your tech is unprotected or that [your security has been compromised](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-your-credit-union-protects-your-accounts-from-a-cyberattack), do not click on any links contained within the messaging. They could contain [malware](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/protect-your-computer-from-malware), viruses, or Trojan horses designed to wreak havoc on your computer, smartphone, or tablet.  Then ask yourself, "Does this make sense to me?" For example, you may not even have Norton AntiVirus software on your computer, so why would Norton be reaching out to you? And if you have a subscription, check your own files for a renewal date. Chances are it's probably not even close to being up for renewal.  If you do happen to click on a link or communicate with an "employee" who wants you to log into your financial accounts or give them login and password information, hang up and call your financial institution immediately. If it's a Hanscom FCU account, you can reach our Remote Support team at 800-656-4328.  "It's important to know that Hanscom FCU would never ask you for your passwords or pin numbers for your accounts, so you have to ask yourself why another company would reach out to you and ask for them," said Denise Bouchard, Hanscom FCU's information security officer. If you were lured into this scam, please contact your financial institution immediately so they can investigate and prevent any further damage to your accounts.** Use the phone number on the back of your debit card or the number for the financial institution you've saved on your phone. Never call back a number given to you by the person on the other end of the line.**   [![Subscribe to the MoneyWisdom Blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118438/37dce13d-86b4-4a65-abff-d0010837e64b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118438/37dce13d-86b4-4a65-abff-d0010837e64b) *Others are reading:* - [How Your Credit Union Protects Your Accounts From A Cyberattack](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-your-credit-union-protects-your-accounts-from-a-cyberattack) - [3 Tips to Create Stronger Passwords](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/3-tips-to-create-stronger-passwords) - [What You Need to Know Now About Bluetooth Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-today-about-bluetooth-security) - [Scam Alert: Beware the Online Banking Vishing Scam](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/scam-alert-beware-the-online-banking-vhishing-scam) - [6 Tips for Better Password Protection](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/6-tips-for-better-password-protection) ** [Scams](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/scams) [** How to Safely Destroy Your Expired Credit Cards ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/safely-destroy-expired-credit-cards) [** Survive Buying and Selling a House at the Same Time ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/survive-buying-and-selling-a-house-at-the-same-time) ### About Author ![Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/HFCU-Profile-1000x1000.jpg) Hanscom Federal Credit Union Hanscom Federal Credit Union, a purpose-driven $1.9 billion organization based in Littleton, MA, empowers its members to achieve financial wellness. Hanscom FCU serves over 95,000 members across the country and overseas through 16 branches, over 100,000 surcharge-free ATMs, 5,000 contact centers, and a web-based branch. Related Posts [![How to Avoid ID Theft Over the Holidays](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Blog%20Photos%20800%20x%20800px%20(1)-1.png) How to Avoid ID Theft Over the Holidays ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/bid/155005/don-t-let-identity-theft-ruin-your-holidays) [![How to Avoid the Latest Financial Scam: AI Voice Cloning](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Blog%20Photos%20800%20x%20800px-1.png) How to Avoid the Latest Financial Scam: AI Voice Cloning ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/ai-voice-cloning-scam) [![How to Avoid a Romance Scam](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/older%20couple%20on%20park%20bench.png) How to Avoid a Romance Scam ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-to-avoid-a-romance-scam) ** - [**](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/scam-alert-watch-out-for-subscription-renewal-fraud/) - [**](https://X.com/share?url=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/scam-alert-watch-out-for-subscription-renewal-fraud/) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/scam-alert-watch-out-for-subscription-renewal-fraud/&summary=&source=CeBIT) ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ### Comment ### Subscribe To Blog ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### contact **Hanscom Federal Credit Union** 1610 Eglin St. Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 Call us: [800-656-4328](tel:8006564328) [https://www.hfcu.org/](https://www.hfcu.org/) ### About Us [The MoneyWisdom Blog](https://www.hfcu.org/the-moneywisdom-blog.html) ### Social ** ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.facebook.com/HanscomFederalCreditUnion The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://X.com/HanscomFCU The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.instagram.com/hanscomfcu/ The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.linkedin.com/company/hanscomfcu/ The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### http://www.youtube.com/c/HanscomFederalCreditUnion The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ### Popular Posts [What You Need to Know About Putting Your Home in a Trust](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-putting-your-home-in-a-trust) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-10T072804.753.jpg) [What You Need to Know About Your Federal Tax Bracket](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-tax-bracket) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-03-22T123305.900.jpg) [6 Boat Types to Get on the Water](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/6-boat-types-to-get-on-the-water) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/images/Jet_Ski.jpg) [23 Organizations Dedicated to the Needs of Seniors](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/23-organizations-dedicated-to-the-needs-of-seniors) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Senior%20citizens.jpg) [9 Smart Moves for Lottery Winners](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/lottery) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/images/lottery_winner.jpg) ### Recent Posts - [![National Credit Union Administration](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NCUA-logo-small.png?width=95&name=NCUA-logo-small.png) ](https://www.ncua.gov/) [![Equal Housing Lender](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/EHL-logo-small.png?width=65&name=EHL-logo-small.png)](https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing) - @ 2023 [Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://www.hfcu.org/) - Federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.hfcu.org/content/docs/Privacy_Notice.pdf) **Disclosure:** Hanscom Federal Credit Union does not provide and is not responsible for any products, services, or overall website content available at any third-party sites linked within this blog. Moreover, Hanscom Federal Credit Union's privacy policies do not apply to any of the linked websites within this blog. Please consult the privacy disclosures on those linked sites for further information. ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" }, "dateModified" : "October 6, 2022, 3:40:30 AM", "datePublished" : "2021-02-05 21:21:33", "description" : "The email says your subscription's up for renewal, but what's likely happening is a scammer's on the prowl. Here's how to keep your money safe from them.", "headline" : "Scam Alert: Watch Out for Subscription Renewal Fraud", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent30.net/hubfs/118438/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-02-05T143854.643.jpg" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://go.hfcu.org/blog/scam-alert-watch-out-for-subscription-renewal-fraud", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/118438/Logo%202.jpg" }, "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" } } ```