As the holiday shopping season ramps up, it’s the ideal time to revisit the important steps consumers should take to protect themselves against big company scams and hacks. With the increase in transactions taking place during this time, scammers and hackers seem to amp up their game to take full advantage of the situation, often in the form of a credit card breach at a big retail company. The personal information obtained is then sold to scammers who will use it for email scams, identify theft, credit card fraud, and much more. Although these stories can be heard on the news daily, people are still falling victim to this nightmare and crooks are continually inventing new ways to steal your information. Below you’ll find a few critical steps to take to help protect yourself from becoming one of the millions of people affected annually by fraud.
Ignore Unknown Emails. This actually sounds easier than it is. Why? Hackers will use big names like PayPal and eBay in the “sent from” section of emails. If you open the email and aren’t sure of its validity, just click on the name in the “sent from” box to view the actual email address. Most times you’ll realize right away that it’s not actually a business email address from PayPal or eBay or another well known institution. If you don’t recognize the sender, your best bet is to not open the email period and never click on a link, attachment or file within an email you’re unsure about. This is how hackers insert Malware on your computer and are able to access your personal information.
Change Passwords to Accounts, Email & Social Media Monthly. Make a point of changing your passwords monthly. When you do, use a variation of letters, numbers and symbols to make it strong and difficult to hack. Do not use the same password for all your accounts! Yes, this can become hard to keep track of but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Keep a password reminder sheet near your computer and jot the new passwords down as you change them. When websites offer to save your password, opt out.
Protect Your Computer. Install a firewall on your computer in the form of software or hardware. The purpose of the firewall is to protect your computer from hackers and viruses by filtering the information allowed into your network. Always make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date (such as Norton Antivirus), and install a spam blocker or filter in your email account. Spam can be one of the easiest ways for identity thieves to trick you. If you’re unsure how to take these steps, ask for help from family or friends.
Monitor Financial Accounts and Credit Reports Regularly. A big company breach will gain access to your credit card information leaving it open for credit card theft. Keep a close eye on your financial records and put alerts on bank accounts and credit cards so you know straight away of odd charges on your account. For instance, if there are charges over a certain dollar amount or if charges are made out of the country, you’ll be alerted. Carefully look over your statements and make sure there aren’t any purchases on your account that you didn’t make.
Scammers Purchase Phone Numbers. Scammers purchase phone numbers from hackers to make scamming you easier than ever. The scam works from persistent contact where the scam artist builds up a rapport with the victim, for instance, holding out the promise of a huge payout if only the victim just pays an additional small sum of money to take care of technicalities or uses threats and heavy-handed pressure and intimidation. You may also get a call or request for a call because there’s a problem with your computer. Check your caller ID before answering and if you don’t recognize the number or caller’s name, don’t answer. Many of these types of calls are now disguised under local numbers giving you a false sense of security. Just because the phone rings, doesn’t mean you have to pick it up.
Ransom Notes That Attack Your Computer. When we talk about ransom notes, we’re not talking about a loved one being held hostage, but rather your computer and all your files. Ransomware, a type of software that computer hackers use to hold individuals’ data hostage by blocking access to files unless they agree to pay a ransom, is on the rise. Your computer will still work, but your files will not be accessible. The hackers encrypt your files and hold them until you pay a fee that could be upwards of $500 or more, paid to a Bitcoin account which is untraceable. These Ransomware attacks have not only happened to individuals but also to schools and businesses. Do not pay the fees, go directly to the police or FBI with these situations. To help protect from a hack like this one, back-up your files and delete important ones from your computer that may have sensitive information such as tax files.
Have Discussions About Fraud with Elderly Family Members. Scammers and hackers prey on the elderly and are the most susceptible to fraud. They are the least aware of the current scams and fear the repercussions. Dementia and other age related mental impairments often emerge gradually and inconsistently. It only takes one lapse of confusion for your elderly parents or grandparents to make a huge, costly mistake. Inform your relatives about common scam practices. Many common elements of popular phone scams are the same. They often cite the IRS and request payments by wire transfer. Request for them to hang up immediately on any call of this type.
Credit Cards and Big Company Data Breaches. According to a recent survey, over 52% of consumers are fearful of data breaches by big retailers such as Target’s 2013 credit card breach. The best way to protect yourself is to use cash, but only 20% of holiday shoppers plan to do that. If you do plan to use a credit card, use a credit card vs. debit card which offers more protections than a debit card in the event of fraud. It’s also recommended to use just one card for your holiday purchases and use one with a low credit limit. This makes it easy to keep track of all your purchases on just one statement and to keep it separate from other accounts. Using services like PayPal can also lower the risk of your card information being lost in a retailer’s breach.
Stay on Top of the Latest Frauds such as Gift Card Fraud. One of the latest scams involves gift cards. With holiday gift giving upcoming, this scam will likely be on the rise. Scammers go after any unused balance on gift cards once they’re activated. One day you’ve got a substantial balance and the next time you go to use it, it’s at a zero balance. Thieves target gift card display racks, grab a stack of gift cards, snap a photo of the back of the card or jot down the card numbers in the store and wait for the cards to be activated. They then call to find the available balance and go online shopping. Protect yourself and those who receive the gift cards by purchasing gift cards from retailers who keep gift cards behind the counter and not accessible to crooks. Also do not buy gift cards that are being sold on auction websites. Since this is a large source of gift card fraud, these cheap gift cards may well be worthless to you. There’s a good chance they are stolen, counterfeit or used.
Use a 6 Digit Code on Mobile Phones. Upgrading your phone’s pass code to a 6 digit code from a 4 digit code provides additional security. The two additional digits make it hundreds of times harder to hack. In the event you lose your phone or it’s stolen, accessing the phone will be far harder for the crook. Once a phone is stolen and the pass code is cracked, the crook has been given a virtual buffet of options to make your life a nightmare.
Phony Retail Shopping Apps. Shopping apps are all the rage because they typically offer rewards, cash back and special insider deals. However, this is also one of the newest scams to be aware. Phony shopping apps look like regular retailer’s apps and encourage you to click on a link within an email to get your app. Once you click on the link, their intention is to steal your personal information and credit card information. Help protect yourself by only clicking on links to the app from the retailer’s official website, watch for bad reviews, improper English, and links to competing apps.
Justin Lavelle is Communications Director at BeenVerified (www.beenverified.com) where he often writes about scam prevention. BeenVerified is the fast, affordable, and easy way to access to public records and search for people. Find out ages, marital status, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, criminal records, and more. To learn more about BeenVerified, visit their website at https://www.beenverified. com. You can also follow BeenVerified on their blog, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.