Scams are becoming more sophisticated every day. Text messages, phone calls, emails, and even messages that appear to come from people you know can be fake. The most effective way to protect yourself is to adopt a zero-trust mindset and slow down before taking action.
Below are essential rules everyone should follow to reduce the risk of fraud, identity theft, and financial loss.
Essential Rules to Protect Yourself From Scams
- Trust nothing by default. Always approach text messages, emails, phone calls, and online requests with zero trust until you can independently verify they are from a legitimate and trusted source.
- Never trust caller ID. Phone numbers can be spoofed. A call or text appearing to come from a known number does not mean it is legitimate.
- Apply the same above rule to emails. Even if an email appears to come from someone you know, their account could be compromised or impersonated.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Urgent offers, threats, prizes, or unexpected refunds are common scam tactics.
- Do not respond to messages from unknown sources. If you receive an unexpected text message, delete it. Do not reply, click links, or engage in any way.
- Never share verification or security codes. Legitimate companies will never ask for one-time passcodes or verification codes.
- Always initiate contact yourself when money or an account is involved. If a message claims to be from your bank or credit card company, call the phone number printed on the back of your card. Do not search the internet for a phone number.
- Ask your bank for additional safeguards. Request in-person verification for wire transfers, set daily transfer limits, and establish a verbal password on your accounts.
- Use multiple bank accounts. Do not keep all of your savings in one account. Separating funds limits potential damage if one account is compromised.
- Use a dedicated bill-pay account. Keep only enough money in this account to cover regular bills and avoid storing extra funds in it.
- Never respond to suspicious bank communications. If you receive a message claiming to be from your bank, do not reply. Call the number on the back of your card or visit your local branch and speak to a manager.
- Freeze all credit reports. Make sure your credit reports are frozen to prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name.
- Use strong, secure passwords. Passwords should be long, unique, and difficult to guess.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an extra layer of security that significantly reduces account compromise.
- Change passwords regularly. Updating passwords reduces the risk of long-term exposure if credentials are leaked.
- Never reuse passwords. Every website and account should have its own unique password. Reusing passwords allows attackers to access multiple accounts at once.
We Are Here to Help You Stay Safe
Scams and identity theft can have long-lasting consequences. Prevention is the most effective defense. We help clients understand these risks, set up and understand what is a secure password, enable two-factor authentication, and review account security.
Education is paramount when it comes to protecting yourself from scams. We understand that all of this information can feel overwhelming, especially as threats continue to evolve. You don’t have to figure it out on your own. We regularly help people walk through these steps one-by-one, explain what matters most, and put practical protections in place at a pace that feels manageable.
If you would like assistance or education on protecting yourself from scams, you can learn more about our services on our technology services page or request help through our schedule computer help page.
For additional tips and educational articles, visit our computer and IT blog.