Your Education committee has been working on getting some articles out to help you begin your new year by learning something new. When selecting the article topics, we have been using the results of the TVCUC Survey from last year and input from FLS. So, we are hoping we are meeting your needs.

We have begun identifying the articles as Novice Level or Intermediate Level so that you have a better idea of what is being presented.

We are also beginning to populate a repository of the many “How-To” articles that we have presented so that you can easily find them again.

Let me know if you like the new format. Also, if you have a technology
topic you’d like us to research and write, let me know. Send me an email.

We look forward to helping you become smarter and more confident in the use of technology!

Novice and Intermediate Levels

What is Ransomware?
Could it happen to you?
How can I avoid it?
What should I do if I fell for the scam?

This and more will be explained if you read this article.  Remember, as part of the Computer Users Club, you have free access to our First Line Support who can help you.

We are coming up on tax season. There will be several new IRS Imposter Scams. So, prepare yourself.

Here’s how the scams may work:

1. You get a call from someone who says he’s from the IRS and that you owe back taxes. He threatens to sue you, arrest or deport you, or revoke your license if you don’t pay right away. He tells you to put money on a prepaid debit card and give him the card numbers.
   
2. The caller may know some of your Social Security number. And your caller ID might show a Washington, DC area code. But is it really the IRS calling? NO!
   
3. The real IRS won’t ask you to pay with a prepaid debit card or wire transfers. They won’t ask for a credit card over the phone. And when the IRS first contacts you about unpaid taxes, they do it by mail, not by phone. Also, caller IDs can be faked.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Stop. Don’t wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card. Once you send it, the money is gone. If you have tax questions, go to IRS.gov or call the IRS at 800-829-1040.
   
2. If you spot a scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
   • Call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or TTY 1-866-653-4261
   • Go online: FTC.gov/complaint
   i. Your complaint can help protect other people. By filing a complaint, you can help the FTC’s investigators identify the imposters and stop them before they can get someone’s hard-earned money.

FLS Recommended Software:

While types of software are personal preferences, there are some applications and solutions you really need to install on a Windows PC and a Mac. The TVCUC FLS and TAP groups have carefully evaluated several necessary options and we highly recommend them to you. In fact, these are the same applications and solutions we personally use on our own computers.