5 Ways to Protect Yourself From Scams

Fraudulent scams and hackers are not going away any time soon. If anything, they’re adapting with the changing times, becoming more stealthy with our modern technology. How can you protect yourself or your business from scams and hackers? It may seem like a big feat, but can be done with a few simple precautions that will help keep you and your information safe and protected. 

• Don’t share your personal information with anyone.

This includes your PIN, passwords, Social Security number, and other confidential information. Keep your personal information in a safe space, if written down, and do not share your personal information with anyone. This is very sensitive information that is unique to just you. 

• Be aware of how scams present themselves. 

Scams continue to evolve. We have seen them in forms of emails, pop-ups, calls, and now texts. Yes, you can now receive phishing texts! We may think our SmartPhones will keep our information protected, but it’s important to not respond or accept any messages from unknown numbers. 

• Use only trusted, reputable sites, programs, and software. 

Make sure to invest some time doing research on new programs or software you want to use. This is the same for any websites you want to make a purchase from. Trusted sites will be secure and will display “https” before the rest of the website link. Before giving your personal information to a new site, program or software, do a bit of digging to ensure it’s a safe platform. 

• Always be alert and cautious. 

Always have your guard up when it comes to suspicious texts, calls or emails. Be wary of rewards or giveaways - scams usually disguise themselves as prizes or need you to act on something right away. If you receive a message from an unknown sender, it’s best to delete right away. 

• Never email personal information.

If you’re making a transaction with a trusted source, you should still never give your bank information, Social Security number, or any other personal information over email. Your information could be easily hacked and leaked. It’s best to provide your personal information to a trusted source either in person or over the phone. 

Stay up-to-date on the current scams that are hitting people. Be aware of where you share your information, with who, and how. One careless mistake can lead to a big mess and a challenging clean up.