Scammers know the value of your personal and financial information and will do or say almost anything to get it. The best way to avoid this is to recognize a phishing scam.
Often, these scams originate from an unexpected email, text, or call that appears to be from a recognizable company. The sender or caller claims that there’s a problem or some urgent matter that needs immediate attention. You may be asked to click a link or call a number to eliminate a threat or consequence. Your response sets you up for identity theft.
To stay safe from scammers, consider these tips:
Honest organizations won’t call, email, or text you to ask for your personal or financial information. Don’t provide your social security number, bank account, or credit card numbers in response to these calls or messages.
Be leery of unsolicited phone calls, visits, or messages that request any type of personal or confidential information. Even if someone seems to know about you, your family, or your employer, they may have obtained those details from a social networking site or other online source.
If you get an email or text message from a company you recognize and do business with, contact them using the phone number or website you already know to be real. Don’t trust any links or phone numbers they provide in the request.
Keep your software updated to help protect your computer, phone, and connected devices from security threats.
Be alert! It’s much easier to hang up the phone or ignore a message, even if it feels like you’re being rude, than to deal with the hassle and financial strain that can result from becoming a victim of a scam.