Posted on by Virginia Emrick

Protect Yourself from Scams

graphic of a person searching the dark web

The phone rings and you check the caller ID. There’s a name and a familiar number, or at least a local one. So, you answer.

“Hello.”

A panicked voice responds, “Hello, Grandma?” Or, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, etc. as the case may be. “I’m in trouble and I need your help.”

Knowing that you’re not a grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, etc., you immediately recognize the call is either a wrong number (highly unlikely) or a scam (more likely) and you hang up.

BUT…what if you are indeed a grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, etc. and the voice on the other end does in fact sound like someone in your family? Do you help? 

Imposter scams are the most commonly reported scams received by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and hold second place for highest reported losses in 2022. In dollars, that came to $2.6 billion from 2.4 million consumers, or a median loss of $650 per person.

Newly released data from the FTC shows that fraud losses are up more than 30 percent over 2021, with consumers reporting almost $8.8 billion in losses. That’s a huge jump from 2020’s losses of $3.5 billion. 

So how do you protect yourself?

Nowadays, crime is more creative than ever before and scammers are more technically savvy. It’s imperative to stay aware and protect yourself. In an AARP interview on February 9, 2023, Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Merrick Garland suggested prevention as key. To do that, follow the tips below.

“You’re dealing with experts here, and the best solution when dealing with a potential scam attempt is to slow it down. Nobody should be calling you out of the blue and asking you for your Social Security number. Nobody should be calling you out of the blue and asking you for your checking account number. Nobody should be calling you out of the blue and asking for your email address.” Attorney General Merrick Garland

Guard Your Privacy 

  • Check your social media account settings to ensure that the only people who can access your information, photos, and posts are people you know and trust.
  • Shred documents that contain sensitive information, like account numbers or addresses instead of throwing them in the trash.
  • Don’t volunteer information to callers without confirming their identity. For example, don’t say a grandchild’s name when the caller says “Hi, Grandma.” You should also stay quiet when they ask to confirm your address or other personal information, especially if they demand that information before telling you why they are calling.
  • Change your passwords regularly. Use hard to guess combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. Better yet, use two factor authentication (2FA) and consider investing in a password management tool like 1Password.

Monitor Your Accounts

  • Check your credit report for suspicious activity. Many credit card companies offer credit services with your account but you can also reach out to one of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) for a free copy of your credit report. You can also use a service like AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the only website authorized by the federal government to issue free, annual credit reports.
  • Watch your bank and credit card accounts for transactions you didn’t make. Some scammers will try making a small transaction to see if it goes through. They are checking if the account is active.
  • Keep a copy or list of all your accounts in a safe place. It’s best if you can keep a copy of the front and back of all your credit cards and ID. Should anything happen, you’ll have quick access to your account information to call customer service.

Validate Information

  • Confirm a caller’s identity by looking up a phone number and contacting the organization they claim to represent to verify why they are calling. But, don’t trust the number they provide as scammers use false information to lure you.
  • Contact your family members to check if there really was an accident, emergency, or other problem. Often scammers will ask you to promise not to share their dire situation with other family members to prevent you from learning the truth.
  • Ensure new merchants are legitimate before you buy online. A quick Google search of the company name and the words “scam,” “fraud,” “reviews,” or “complaints” should provide information to help you make informed decisions.

Most importantly, trust your instincts! If you’re seeing red flags, step back and assess the situation calmly. Don’t cave to the scammer’s pressure. They often try to rush their targets (you) into making decisions. If needed, call your local authorities and ask for advice. And by all means, report fraud to the FTC even if you didn’t fall victim.

Be safe out there!

If you have any tips or resources not covered here, please share in the comments.


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