Ways to reduce your chances of losing money to scammers
Scammers never rest; they continue to come up with new ways to trick us. Stay alert, especially whenever you are using technology. Don’t click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message asking you to update or verify personal or account information. Be cautious of things you receive in the mail as well. Store your passwords securely.
Your Phone…Don’t rely only on caller ID to confirm someone’s identity. Look up the company’s phone number through a legitimate source like a statement or letter provided by the company, and don’t use the number a potential scammer is providing. Text messages are the new way scammers get you to engage. If you get a text from a phone number you don’t recognize that gives an urgent message to respond, do not respond.
Your Wallet… Clean out your wallet on a regular basis. Remove cards you don’t need to carry. Throw away any unnecessary items. Store copies of your cards and important items in a safe place in your home. Keep in mind, the more cards you carry the more calls you will have to make to have them canceled if your wallet is stolen; and a thief will have more of your personal information.
Computer… Do not open attachments or click on links from people or businesses you do not completely trust. Secure your online accounts with a strong password and change it regularly. Use two-factor authentication for secure websites that you use often.
Financial Accounts… Never send funds to anyone until you can confirm that the payment destination is legitimate. Regularly review the incoming and outgoing transactions on your bank and account statements to make sure you recognize every listed transaction. Report any incorrect transactions immediately.