A few months ago, I was training a client and noticed something seemed off. A vibe of sadness and stress had replaced her usual upbeat self. We were heading into our second round of her strength circuit when she started to cry. I told her that if she needed to talk, I was there for her. She paused for a moment, and I could see the pain and frustration in her eyes as she revealed that she had made the mistake of clicking on a link inside an e-mail she thought was from Norton. She then entered a lot of her personal information, including her social security number. Before she knew it, all of her accounts were at risk, and her finances were in jeopardy. Thankfully, the banks she belonged to froze all of her accounts and assets while they conducted an investigation, but the process was arduously long and took a deep toll on her. I remember telling her that she is human and made a mistake and that, unfortunately, these things happen every day to many people. Although I know she’ll never let it happen again, we discussed how sad it is that others may fall victim to online and phone scams and shame on those in our world who continue to try to steal from others.
Our digital and social media age especially opens up unlimited opportunities for meeting people from all over the world and allowing predators into your personal world, with you potentially not knowing it. Here are some helpful tips for keeping safe and exercising caution to help avoid online and phone scams.
Use Common Sense Along with Your Secure Internet Connection
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stay grounded in reality and remember to read and examine any communications you receive that ask you to make purchases and/or have links and offer a bonus or free item or offer. Do not ever open an attachment or download a file unless you know and trust the person who sent it. Never provide your personal information or payment information without being absolutely sure the website is legitimate. Call any company or service directly if you have reservations about the legitimacy of an e-mail you received or the information on their website.
Pay Attention to Details
Check the spelling and grammar of the e-mails you receive. Spammers and phishers often include mistakes, and their attempt to mimic logos can be sketchy. If you are included on a mass e-mail distribution list, that is another red flag that they are shooting out bulk e-mails and trying to get anyone to fall for their scheme. Ensure that all websites you browse or intend to make purchases from are legitimate and reliable.
Passwords Matter
Always use strong passwords (a mix of numbers and letters and symbols) and enable multi-factor authentication when possible. And even though it may be simple, do not use the same password for all of your accounts and websites. It’s not as convenient and can take some intentionality on your part, but mixing up your passwords across the board can help reduce your risk of being exposed in the event another account is hacked or compromised. It goes without saying that you should also make sure your devices/computers have updated software and trusted anti-virus software or malware installed to help protect your information.
Beware Phone Scams
Remember that caution matters. A client of mine has a disabled sister who was conned out of more than $6,000 because she believed a caller when he said that they had a grant she qualified for because she was disabled but that she had to put down a payment in order to qualify for the “larger” stipend of money. Ultimately, they took her money, and she never saw her grant. These scammers have no heart and have one mission – to steal what is not theirs. They prey on the elderly, especially, so be sure to continue to educate your loved ones.
Be extremely wary of “scam likely” calls or unlisted numbers on your caller ID. Never provide your personal information or any identifying information if you are not fully sure they are a legitimate entity. A helpful way to reduce or eliminate spam calls is to register your number on the “Do Not Call” list. You can register online at donotcall.gov.
Pass Your Knowledge on to Your Kids.
Our kids also need to be fully aware, equipped, and prepared to navigate potential online and phone scam risks that, unfortunately, tend to arise in this digital age. Take time to talk with them and review basic and important safeguards. We want to trust others, but we also have to employ good practices and establish boundaries to ensure we are not taken advantage of and protect our personal information.
