In today’s connected world, discerning between genuine communication and potential threats to your financial security can be challenging. The rise of text notifications, emails and social media messages overwhelms us with information, both legitimate and fraudulent.
The Federal Trade Commission reports consumers lost $8.8 billion due to fraud in 2022, the largest losses originating from social media and phone calls. Mail and identity theft remain concerning trends, with fraudsters leveraging personal information mined from social media to impersonate victims.
Fraudsters thrive on misinformation and urgency, playing on people’s fears and desires. To protect yourself:
• Scrutinize communications for red flags like misspellings, mismatched information and unexpected texts.
• Examine links and attachments before opening, verifying their authenticity. An example of what to look for includes an email signature not matching the sending email.
• Beware of threats of “missed opportunities” and requests to send money quickly.
• Independently verify the information through online research or contact with trusted sources.
Additionally, keep the following in mind to protect your personal information:
• Never log into websites such as online banking when sharing your computer screen.
• Exercise caution when providing sensitive information over the phone. Hang up and call back if you need to.
• Avoid sharing personal identification via unsecure methods.
• Review your credit information regularly at annualcreditreport.com.
With unending streams of digital information, it’s crucial to exercise caution and patience when dealing with financial matters.
If you want to learn more, read a recent report published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov and search for the “Money Smart for Older Adults” Resource Guide. Your financial well-being is worth the extra effort to protect it.
The Federal Trade Commission reports consumers lost $8.8 billion due to fraud in 2022, the largest losses originating from social media and phone calls. Mail and identity theft remain concerning trends, with fraudsters leveraging personal information mined from social media to impersonate victims.
Fraudsters thrive on misinformation and urgency, playing on people’s fears and desires. To protect yourself:
• Scrutinize communications for red flags like misspellings, mismatched information and unexpected texts.
• Examine links and attachments before opening, verifying their authenticity. An example of what to look for includes an email signature not matching the sending email.
• Beware of threats of “missed opportunities” and requests to send money quickly.
• Independently verify the information through online research or contact with trusted sources.
Additionally, keep the following in mind to protect your personal information:
• Never log into websites such as online banking when sharing your computer screen.
• Exercise caution when providing sensitive information over the phone. Hang up and call back if you need to.
• Avoid sharing personal identification via unsecure methods.
• Review your credit information regularly at annualcreditreport.com.
With unending streams of digital information, it’s crucial to exercise caution and patience when dealing with financial matters.
If you want to learn more, read a recent report published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov and search for the “Money Smart for Older Adults” Resource Guide. Your financial well-being is worth the extra effort to protect it.