Three words that tell you it's a scam
Nov 20, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS -- As the constant onslaught of scam emails and text messages continues, most Americans have grown accustomed to looking for red flags and warning signs to gauge if what they are reading is a ploy to trick them out of their money or information.
With that in mind, one cyber security expert says one three-word phrase is a dead giveaway that what you’re reading is a scam: “Would you kindly.”
Tim Bajarin is a 40-year veteran market analyst who specializes in cyber security. In a recent interview with Reader’s Digest, he said anyone who says “would you kindly” (or even just the word “kindly”) should trigger your “Spidey-sense.”
The reason is simple: do you know anyone who says “kindly” in their everyday chats?
“You’ll often hear it used in countries with British influence,” Bajarin said. “Perhaps once a colonial country, where English isn’t their mother tongue, such as Nigeria, India and Pakistan.”
Because the word “kindly” is likely used by a foreign national, Bajarin says it’s a good bet the text or email you’re reading was sent by someone overseas, from a so-called scam “boiler room.” The sender may have spoofed the number to make the text look local, but it’s probably not.
In general, he says the word “kindly,” or the phrase “would you kindly,” should be treated as a red flag much like other telltale signs such as misspellings and weird-looking web addresses.