It’s not foolproof, so you still need to be alert.īe suspicious of any that require you to click on a link. It’s an extra layer of protection that filters out many attempted hacks. What this means is that if you log into a website, they’ll send you a text message or an email to verify it’s you. Many of these are free, but you could always go old-school and just write all your passwords down in a notebook. There are password managers you can get so you can keep all of your (unique) passwords in one place. The ideal password is a random string of letters, numbers and symbols. Birthdays (your own, your kids, or your significant other’s)Īll of these are pretty easy for scammers to guess or get access to.But this means if a scammer gets into an online account, they can also access your other accounts, including credit cards and banking.Īccording to the AARP, the most common passwords are:Īdditionally, do not use personal information such as the following: Yes, this sounds obvious, but we’re all probably guilty of using the same four passwords everywhere we go. Don’t use the same password for multiple websites. The most common companies to be impersonated include:īut that doesn’t mean if an email doesn’t come from one of these companies, it’s legit. Most scams, ninety-six percent in fact, arrive by email. If you receive what you think is a call from Ent, you should know that we will never ask you for any of the following: They could also claim that they need to confirm a recent purchase.įirst and foremost, you should know that no legitimate credit union will ever ask you for your password or PIN number. Phishing scammers usually send an email, claiming there is a problem with your account, or your account is suspended until you click on a link to confirm your account and password. all as a way to gain access to your account. Thanks to COVID-19, scamming opportunities abound-they offer loans, new credit cards, a faster way to get your stimulus check, vaccines, etc. Now, however, many scammers use alternative methods to gain access to your account, such as: If you get a check that you weren’t expecting, you should be suspicious. If the check comes from somewhere other than where the buyer is from, it’s probably not a real check. If someone sends you more money than the agreed amount, you should be suspicious. Then they’ll ask you to deposit the check and wire them the difference.īe careful as a seller. The buyer overpays for your item with more than the amount they owe. Overpayment scams are quite popular with online auction sites, such as eBay. Phishing: You receive an email or a phone call, asking you to verify your account information.Automatic withdrawals: Scammers set up an automatic debit from your account, to enter a contest or donate to a charity.If you cash it, you may be either authorizing the purchase of something or signing up for a loan. Unsolicited check fraud: Someone sends you a check for no reason.You’ll lose all the money you wired to the scammer since the check is worthless. Overpayment scams: The scammer sends you a counterfeit check and asks you to deposit the check and then wire money back to them.There are four common types of banking scams:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |