Hey kids!! I've complied a list from a few emails I've gotten from several financial institutions that give some great tips and tricks to keep your finances as safe as possible from scammers and hackers. The best defense is offense in this case. I couldn't stare it better myself, so I just listed these resources below for you! These institutions deserve credit for the great resources and are as follows:
Citibank - https://www.citi.com/
Experian - https://www.experian.com/
AARP - https://www.aarp.org/
Thank you all for some concise useful information 😍😍
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You should never wire money or send money using Zelle® or similar payment platforms to:
Anyone claiming your account is compromised
Anyone asking you to send money to yourself
Anyone who claims to be from a government agency
Any stranger, no matter what reason they give
A telemarketer trying to sell you something
Unauthorized, unverified cryptocurrency sites or salespeople
If you get a suspicious call, email, or text, don’t disclose any personal information until you verify it’s from a legitimate source. If you have any doubt, contact the company directly.
Only allow remote access to your computer when you’ve initiated the contact with a company you know through a verified phone number or website.
Always protect your card and account PIN. Be sure it is not easily guessable, do not enter it on a non-Citi site, and remember that our team will never ask for it.
Set up 2-factor authentication (multiple ways to identify yourself) with the companies you work with to help keep your device and money secure.
If you suspect one of your accounts has been compromised, immediately change your user ID and password for your Citi account and other important accounts.
A really good resource that lists a lot of the most frequently used scams are listed at this Citibank website. Take some time to review the scams happening and be vigilant about making sure you aren't taken for a ride!
1.Never reuse passwords. Don’t use the same password on every single site — particularly if you’re one of the many who opt for “123456” and “password” (two of the most commonly used passwords, according to the password management company NordPass). Use unique, long passphrases (think 40-plus characters) for each, and subscribe to a password manager, such as LastPass or Keeper, to store them all. You’ll just need to have a single, very strong and memorable passphrase for the password manager. Choose something that’s “relevant to you but as random as possible,” suggests Neil Grant, AARP’s senior identity and access manager architect.
2. Use a unique username, too. “If you don’t have to use an email address as a username, don’t,” Steinbach says.
3. Set up multifactor authentication (MFA) on your accounts. Banks increasingly use MFA to add an extra layer of security. You’ll log in using your username and password, then be prompted for some second stage of verification, such as a one-time code sent by text. Facial recognition is another form of MFA that can be used to verify your identity (though it has not been implemented by banks).
"If a criminal can get you to reveal things such as your mother’s maiden name or the year you graduated from high school. They aren’t going to even bother with your bank password, they’re just going to reset it."
— Neil Grant, AARP’s senior identity and access manager architect
4. Check your accounts frequently. If you notice any irregular charges or activity, call your bank. Keep an eye out for very small transactions, such as $1 — tests criminals will do to see if the transaction goes through before stealing larger amounts, Iacono says. (An AARP colleague recently had $12,000 stolen from her account; the theft began with a 5-cent withdrawal).
5. Set up alerts for every transaction made. A lot of financial institutions have this feature, Solomon says, allowing the customer to immediately identify suspicious transactions, which, again, is crucial. “The fraudsters act quickly,” he says. “They’re going to transfer the money quickly, and they’re going to pull the money out quickly.”
Note that if you get a message purportedly from your bank with a scam alert with a link, you shouldn’t reply to it directly or click the link. Contact the bank separately using the direct line on the back of your bank card or its standard 800 number. (See tip number 7, below.)
6. Check your credit score regularly. Solomon suggests checking in with the three major credit bureaus every three to four months to assure yourself that nobody has used your personal information to take out a loan or credit card in your name, for instance.
7. Think twice before responding to unsolicited emails, texts or calls. And definitely don’t click on any links included in those emails or texts. “Even if it seems like it’s coming from a brother or sister,” Grant says, “unless they’re standing right next to you saying check out this link,” don’t click. He doesn’t even give his birthdate when his doctor’s office calls: “They say, ‘Can you verify your date of birth?’ I say, ‘No, you called me, I shouldn’t have to verify anything,’ and I call them back,” in case it’s a hacker after his personal information.
That’s often the goal of phishing; if a criminal can get you to reveal things such as your mother’s maiden name or the year you graduated from high school, Grant says, “they aren’t going to even bother with your bank password, they’re just going to reset it.”
8. Learn about the latest scams and frauds. The more you educate yourself on how these criminals operate, the better prepared you’ll be for the next phishing attempt or scam call. For example, Steinbach says, “If you know that there’s the ability for the bad guys to call your phone and spoof the incoming number, you’re more wary.”
Many banks have helpful fraud-prevention information sites, including Citi, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
You can also stay up on the latest scams by checking out AARP’s Fraud Watch Network (FWN) and getting regular updates by signing up for the FWN’s biweekly Watchdog Alerts or text FWN to 50757 to receive text alerts.
9. Embrace the digital age. Some older people may be wary of using banking apps and websites, Steinbach says, “but if you were to ask me what’s the safest way to bank, it’s online.” If you only rely on the paper banking statement that arrives by mail once a month, he notes, it could be weeks before you realize money has been stolen.
If you have been a victim of fraud, the faster you get control of your information, the better. Use the resources below to gain your life back!
It is always a good idea to get a good monitoring company to watch your life. Some of the top companies in 2023 are:
LifeLock - https://lifelock.norton.com/offers
Aura - https://www.aura.com/
Security Guard - https://www.identityguard.com/