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<p style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><span style="font-size: 28px;">With data breaches and identity theft in the news practically every week, you may be wondering what you can do to secure your finances.</span></p>
<p>Here are 10 of the best measures you can take, according to experts. If you're not already doing these, it's easy to make them a part of your routine to safeguard your accounts.</p>
<h2>1. Keep crucial numbers secure</h2>
<p>One basic way to protect your finances is simply paying attention and making your privacy a priority. Don&rsquo;t print Social Security and driver&rsquo;s license numbers on the checks you write, or jot down your PINs and passwords on cards, for example, and never give your credit or debit card and PIN to someone else to use. When you&rsquo;re at an ATM, in addition to shielding the view of your PIN, look for signs a card reader has been tampered with, such as loose components or wires; that may mean the device has been fitted with a skimmer, which can record your personal information.</p>
<p>Another key precaution: If you&rsquo;re donating or discarding an old computer, wipe the hard drive to remove all your personal and financial files, says Gerri Walsh, president of the Investor Education Foundation at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).</p>
<h2>2. Create strong passwords or pass phrases</h2>
<p>This is one of the most important steps to secure your accounts. What&rsquo;s considered strong? Passwords that include lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers&nbsp;and symbols, if allowed, or try pass phrases such as&nbsp;My@untLov3sCa$h, suggests Walsh. Use different passwords for each account and change them, as well as the PIN of your ATM card, regularly.</p>
<p>If you&rsquo;re having trouble remembering all your passwords, says Walsh, it may be worth the nominal fee to use a password manager that randomly generates secure passwords for your accounts while allowing you to use a simple master password. With strong encryption, it also protects PINs, CVV codes, credit card numbers&nbsp;and answers to security questions.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If you&rsquo;re donating or discarding an old computer, wipe the hard drive to remove all your personal and financial files.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>3. Be mindful with mail habits</h2>
<p>If you're not doing transactions digitally, it's generally safer to send bills, money or checks from the post office or an official postal mailbox rather than your personal mailbox. And it's a good idea to collect your mail daily because pre-approved credit cards, bank statements, bills and envelopes that may contain blank checks can be valuable to thieves.</p>
<p>If you do notice a bank or billing statement is missing, report it immediately, and consider switching to paperless statements.</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-937170888_web.jpg" alt="Man entering his credit card number into his laptop" /></p>
<h2>4. Monitor your credit</h2>
<p>The prevailing advice is to check your credit at least once a year to spot any mistakes or potential fraud, but you might consider requesting and reviewing your credit report every four months for extra peace of mind.</p>
<p>You may be able to accomplish this at no cost by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com, and alternating between the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Using one dedicated email address just for financial communications from banks, credit card companies and investment companies can help you streamline this too.</p>
<h2>5. Beware of fake websites</h2>
<p>Some online fraudsters <a href="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/finance-101/2023_imposter_scams_and_how_to_avoid_them" data-link-source="tiny">mimic authentic websites</a> with fake versions meant to fool users into inputting their credentials, so you'll want to make sure you're always using a company's official site. Avoid those with a URL that starts with http rather than https, and before you click on links within an email, be certain that you know the sender.</p>
<h2>6. Avoid phishing scams</h2>
<p>Fraudulent offers can come via email, text or website, and some of the most common scams request money or personal information for various reasons: to claim a sweepstakes prize or "update" your profile, for example. Others claim the funds or data are needed because the sender's website has been hacked. Never click on links or respond to requests like these, Walsh warns; your best bet to check whether the outreach is legitimate is to call the company or institution instead.</p>
<h2>7. Shred sensitive documents</h2>
<p>Using a cross-shredder to destroy documents containing account numbers, Social Security numbers or other personal information is always advisable, says Walsh. If you don&rsquo;t have a shredder, check whether your bank sponsors a shredding event, where you can take care of this all at once.</p>
<h2>8. Share cautiously on social media</h2>
<p>Even seemingly harmless details like your alma mater or the name of your family pet can create a vulnerability (think of the common security questions used to verify your identity online), so you may want to think twice before posting anything personal.</p>
<h2>9. Be diligent with your devices</h2>
<p>To shield your information from unwanted access, consider added measures like encrypting your email and enabling two-factor authentication, which sends a one-time passcode to a trusted device whenever you attempt to sign in to an online account. At the very least, maintaining anti-virus and anti-malware protection, and setting up your computer to install updates automatically, are safety best practices.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Using a cross-shredder to destroy documents containing account numbers, Social Security numbers or other personal information is always advisable.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>10. Stay vigilant</h2>
<p>Kids are told, "Don't talk to strangers" &mdash; and the same advice holds true when it comes to your financial information. Don't reveal <a href="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/finance-101/Scams_for_Seniors_To_look_For" data-link-source="tiny">personal or financial information</a> to people you don't know, whether it's by phone, email, mail or in person, and never wire money to someone who claims to be a friend or relative until you have personally contacted that individual to confirm the request.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>&mdash; With additional reporting from Life and Money by Citi editors</em></p>

10 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information Online

<p>Scams targeting older Americans are becoming more common &mdash; and show no signs of stopping.</p>
<p>These scams might be in the form of a call or an email about a too-good-to-be true business deal, a grandchild in danger or an alluring romantic prospect.</p>
<p>According to 2021 data from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, 92,000 Americans over the age of 60 reported losses of $1.7 billion due to fraud in 2021 &mdash; a 74% spike from 2020.</p>
<p>"Scammers are actively targeting elderly Americans because they believe them to be more trusting, less confrontational and thus, more susceptible to fraud," says Kenneth Conner, vice president, scam policy and communications, Citi. "These cyber criminals use psychology and other tactics to get them to send funds."</p>
<p>If you have older loved ones that you believe to be vulnerable, the good news is there are ways you can help them protect their accounts and personal information from fraudsters. It starts with awareness.</p>
<p>Below are four scams commonly aimed at older Americans, and how to respond when that suspicious call, text or email arrives.</p>
<h2>1. Phishing scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:&nbsp;</strong>Cyber criminals frequently impersonate legitimate companies or government agencies (such as the IRS or Social Security Administration) in the hopes of getting someone to click a link, download a file or share sensitive information.</p>
<p>"The reason these scams are so effective is because they look real, especially to an older population who might not be as tech-savvy to recognize the malicious attack," says Lisa Plaggemier, executive director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA).</p>
<p><strong>What to do:&nbsp;</strong>Sit down with your loved ones and explain how to recognize if an email is legitimate. According to Plaggemier, telltale signs of fraud include: misspelled words; variations in the company name or email address; a poorly written message; urgent demands for personal information or money; and suspicious attachments.</p>
<p>Also, government organizations will not reach out over the phone. "They will write via mail on their official letterhead if there is really an issue," says Susan Zaar, senior analyst at Kuma, LLC, a global privacy and security consulting company.</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/body-1_protecting-elderly_109374364.jpg" alt="A man reviews documents in front of his computer screen"></p>
<h2>2. Bank impersonation scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> The increase in digital banking during the pandemic led to a surge in bank impersonators. These scammers pretend to be from one's bank, hoping to acquire valuable, personal information. They might ask the account holder to move their money to "protect it." The scammer may reach out via phone call, text or email.</p>
<p>According to Conner, there has been a notable uptick in bank impersonation via texts, so it's important to be extra cautious when messages from unknown senders.</p>
<p><strong>What to do: </strong>Let vulnerable adults in your life know that they should only contact their bank via a verified phone number from the bank, recommends Conner. This number is usually listed on the back of a debit or credit card. Advise them to be wary of caller ID. "Scammers can manipulate how a number comes through to you," he says. Help them set up a spam call blocker with a spam protector app.</p>
<p>If there are any questions, help them call their bank directly. Senior citizens should also consider granting account access to a trusted loved one who can help them keep an eye on financial transactions.</p>
<h2>3. Tech support scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work: </strong>Consumers may be lured in by a tech support scam when a cyber criminal reaches out and assures them that they can protect their computer against viruses. The truth is, they peddle bogus services and will try to steal a credit card number.</p>
<p>These scammers might install malware, which gives them access to everything on the computer. Scammers attempt this with an unsolicited call or email from tech support, or a random pop-up that appears on users' screens.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Talk about the perils of clicking on unsolicited emails or pop-up windows. Advise your loved ones not to click on these pop-ups and not to open suspicious emails. They should never provide access to their computer to someone who randomly contacts them. Help them set up a pop-up blocker, which can stop pop-ups from appearing on their screen entirely.</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/body-2_protecting-elderly_1304075100.jpg" alt="A woman reviews documents in front of her computer screen"></p>
<h2>4. Romance or family-member-in-trouble scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work: </strong>In a "sweetheart scam" the fraudster reaches out via phone or email or through an online dating app. They spend time getting to know their potential victim, making it seem as though they share the same interests. The victims are led to believe that they have found their perfect match.</p>
<p>But it's too good to be true. Once trust is established, the scammer will look for a way to convince the victim to send money. Maybe a personal emergency has come up, or they want to visit in person and need funds for a flight.</p>
<p>"Many older Americans experience isolation and loneliness in a normal year and seek out companionship through different methods," says Conner. "During COVID-19, this isolation and loneliness was extremely intensified and led to some individuals letting down their guard."</p>
<p>A variation of this scam is when a criminal impersonates a family member in crisis and requests the immediate transfer of funds to help resolve the situation. Here, too, the scammers are appealing to the emotions of their victims. These scammers can be very convincing. They have often done research to better impersonate family members or close friends, and build trust. Always verify an unusual request by reaching out to your loved ones or acquaintances independently. Always be wary of requests for cash, gift cards or funds transfers.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong>&nbsp;Advise your older family member or friend to decline online or in-app friend requests from people they don&rsquo;t know. And they should never, under any circumstances, share personal information or money with someone they have not met in real life. "Recognize the red flags to understand what romance scams are," Conner says. "Have them speak to their friends and family frequently about any new potential partners."</p>
<p>"Scammers are experts at their trades,&rdquo; says Conner. "Knowing when to pause and ask for help is critical to stopping them.&rdquo; Remind your older relative or friend that a trustworthy company or person will not pressure them to respond right away.</p>
<p>Try some role playing with the person you wish to protect by practicing how to cut off a call or other correspondence with a scammer. Create a simple script and keep a copy of it next to your loved one's computer, taped to the back of their phone or on a card in their bag or pocket. It can be as simple as: &ldquo;I am ending this conversation at this point, and I won&rsquo;t be responding to any additional contacts. I wish you a good day.&rdquo;</p>
<p>If a request seems unusual or suspicious, there is a chance it could be a scam &mdash; so tell the seniors or other vulnerable individuals in your life that they should trust their instincts. If they need help with any of these protective measures, let them know that they can always ask you to brainstorm solutions for any suspicious calls or communications that come their way.</p>
<p><strong><em><a href="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/ElderlyScamsIllustration_110822.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-source="tiny">Print this list</a>&nbsp;to help&nbsp;the seniors in your life respond when a suspicious call, text or email arrives.&nbsp;Have them add important numbers and keep in a handy spot near their computer or phone.</em></strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Advise your older family member or friend to decline online or in-app friend requests from people they don&rsquo;t know.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><img class="hero_listicle" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/ElderlyScamsIllustration_110822.png" alt="Illustrations on how to protect yourself from scams"></p>
<h2>Protect yourself from scams</h2>
<p>Here are some tips to help avoid email scams and phone fraudsters. Print them out and keep in a handy spot near your computer or phone.</p>
<ol>
<li>Unknown caller: Let calls from unknown numbers go to voicemail. If you answer and feel pressured, nervous or confused, end the call immediately. Call a family member or friend for advice &mdash; even if the caller says not to.</li>
<li>Review phone contacts: Designate which contacts are your 'favorites' (family, friends, doctor, pharmacy), and set up your phone so that all other contacts go to voicemail.</li>
<li>Resist the click: Avoid clicking on unusual pop-up windows on your computer or phone. Set up a pop-up blocker to stop scam messages from appearing.</li>
<li>If fraud happens, report it: If you've been targeted by a scammer, inform your bank or credit card company right away. Then, contact the FTC at ReportFraud.gov and Adult Protective Services at eldercare.acl.gov</li>
<li>Protect those passwords: Create strong, unique passwords to secure data and information. Use a password manager to generate strong passwords. Always lock devices with a password.</li>
<li>Recognize the red flags: Scammers often play on their target's emotions and provoke fear. They will ask for money or personal information and insist that you act now. They may ask you not to tell anyone.</li>
<li>Set up two-factor authentication: Take an extra step to protect data and set up authentication via an app with your financial or credit card institutions.</li>
<li>When in doubt, ask for help: If you think you're being scammed, end all communication with the suspected scammer immediately and call a trusted friend or relative. Then, contact your bank so they can help you secure your account.</li>
</ol>

How to Help Seniors Avoid Being the Victims of Fraud

<p>Working remotely from home offers undeniable perks &mdash; such as zero commute and a more flexible schedule.</p>
<p>However, while every day may be casual Friday, one thing to not take lightly is cybersecurity.</p>
<p>If you're working from home temporarily or permanently, knowing how to protect yourself from cybercrime belongs at the top of your daily to-do list, along with knowing how to protect your <a href="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/finance-101/protect-your-information-online" data-link-source="tiny">personal information online</a> and your home office.</p>
<p>In order to protect your personal information and home office when working remotely, it is important to understand some of the biggest cybersecurity risks to watch out for.</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-1197182216_web.jpg" alt="Portrait of a serious woman looking at laptop" /></p>
<p>And that's not the only thing you need to look out for when working remotely. Other <a href="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/finance-101/2023-Scams-to-Watch-For" data-link-source="tiny">common scams</a> include targeting remote employees and business owners (which may or may not be perpetrated through a business email compromise) include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Charity fraud: Can be prevalent in times of crisis &mdash; such as political unrest or a natural disaster &mdash; during which fraudulent charitable organizations reach out asking for donations.</li>
<li>Bank impersonation: Fraudsters disguise themselves as trustworthy entities at a financial institutions to try and gain access to information.</li>
<li>Downloading remote access software: You receive a call, email or text from what is believed to a reputable company and are asked to download a remote access app.</li>
<li>A surprise name in your account: A new banking or credit card account opened in your name with an exorbitant service fee added on top.</li>
<li>Mobile phone takeover: Cyber-criminals switch a phone number from one wireless provider to another, so your phone is no longer receiving two factor authentication calls or texts.</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-1036312094_web_0.jpg" alt="Woman working from home on laptop" /></p>
<h2>How to protect your home office from scams</h2>
<p>If you're working remotely for your employer, they may already have their own security protocols in place.</p>
<p>"There's a good possibility that your employer's IT department will take care of all the important security protections, updates and other aspects of protecting you online," says Chris Hauk, consumer privacy champion at online security education website Pixel Privacy.</p>
<p>But it still pays to be diligent about security yourself. Hauk says some of the best ways to do that are to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Make sure your malware or firmware is always up to date</li>
<li>Use a secure virtual private network at home, as well as other remote work areas in lieu of public WiFi</li>
<li>Change the default password on your home WiFi router</li>
<li>Don't allow access to your company-issued devices, such as a mobile phone or laptop</li>
</ul>
<p>It's also important to limit the use of workplace-issued devices to work tasks. Downloading a seemingly harmless app to your work phone, for example, could potentially expose you to fraud if the app includes malicious tracking software.</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/Life & Money Fraudulent Emails_v5_Blue BG copy.jpg" alt="Illustration of mobile phone screen" /></p>
<h2>4 Ways to guard against fraudulent emails</h2>
<p><strong>1. Verify sender's email address</strong>: Fraudsters might fake the displayed name and try to disguise the domain (e.g., "citii.com").</p>
<p><strong>2. Read carefully</strong>: Grammar errors and urgent requests that break protocol are red flags.</p>
<p><strong>3. Scrutinize links</strong>: Hover over a hyperlink to see the URL it goes to. Use caution with unexpected attachments, too.</p>
<p><strong>4. Check with sender</strong>: Contact them via a verified phone number to confirm they sent the email.</p>

Working Remotely? Be Aware of These Home Office Scams.

<p>You may have already received scam emails about your car warranty expiring or ways to lower your credit card interest rate. But just as you've spotted those deceptive scams, cyber criminals are changing tactics.</p><p>Not only that, but the sheer number of scams is growing. In the first three quarters of 2022, more than 130,000 consumers reported to the Federal Trade Commission that they'd been scammed with cons on social media alone. The losses to victims — that means you, consumers — of these scams amount to more than $930 million.</p><p>Because cyber criminals are constantly scheming to develop new scams every year, it's essential to stay on top of these trends. Additionally, as technology has opened up opportunities to <a href="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/finance-101/home-office-business-scams">live and work remotely</a>, it's even more important to be aware of fraud pitfalls.</p><p>Here are some of the latest developments and new tactics of five prevalent scams that cyber criminals rely on.</p><img src="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-748337679_0.jpg" alt="A pensive woman looks away from her phone" class="right_image" /><h2>1. Charity scams</h2><p><strong>How they work:</strong> This type of fraud can be prevalent in times of high-profile crisis, such as political unrest or natural disasters. One example is fraudulent charitable organizations reaching out asking for donations to help refugees. If it's an email or text, it might include a link asking for your financial details or an attachment with instructions on how to donate cryptocurrency or dollars. If it's a call, they'll ask for your banking or credit card details.</p><p>Any kind of upheaval is an opportunity for scammers to find new victims. "It's definitely an angle that that fraudsters love to exploit," says Juan Benavente, head of Cyber Fraud Fusion Center and intelligence strategy at Citi. Geopolitical conflicts often cause a surge in charity-related scams, as well as scams about individuals trying to flee.</p><p>"The scammer gives you a goal and says, 'Hey, I need help to leave the country.' They usually target the elderly for these types of attacks," he says.</p><p>Based on current events, Benavente expects to see an uptick in these types of scams and other cyber-enabled fraud.</p><p><strong>What you can do: </strong>Research the organization before donating. There are resources to help check if an organization is legitimate and registered with the IRS as a tax-exempt organization. You can also check to see how much of your donation will go to the charity's mission or causes on sites such as Charity Navigator or BBB Wise Giving Alliance.</p><p>Aid in times of crisis does seem urgent, but these scammers are preying on people's good will. "There's no rush to do any sort of donations. Do the due diligence for it; that will definitely help," Benavente advises.</p><h2>2. Bank impersonation scams</h2><p><strong>How they work: </strong>You receive what sounds like a legitimate call or appears to be an email from your bank, a reputable vendor or your insurance company about suspicious activity or a problem with your account.</p><p>If it's a call, you'll be asked to provide some additional information, like the security code on the back of your card. If it's an email or text, you may be provided with a link to a fake website that requires you to log in and verify information.</p><p>Cyber criminals often target consumers of well-known companies because there's already a level of trust that's been established. "We've seen increased incidences where our customers are getting calls or other reach outs from bad actors who might say they're from a fraud department or have seen suspicious activity and need to confirm information with them," says Adam Wood, director of cards fraud prevention and policy at Citi.</p><p>"They can sound very legitimate in those conversations and may know some things about the cardholder, such as their address and other information that they can use to establish a comfort level and some level of trust," he adds.</p><p><strong>What you can do: </strong>These calls and emails may seem credible — however, be on high alert when asked to provide personal details via an unsolicited call, text or email link. You can also check the real email address of the sender by hovering over or clicking on the sender's name. Hang up or ignore the link provided in the text or email, and instead go to the website directly or call the number on the back of your credit card. If there's really a problem with your account, it will be recorded there. </p><img src="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-1220647599_0.jpg" alt="A man with a concerning look works on his laptop" class="right_image" /><h2>3. Remote-access software scams</h2><p><strong>How they work: </strong>You receive a call, email or text from what you think is a reputable company that you use, and you are asked to download a remote access app so they can fix a billing issue or send you a gift reward.</p><p>In the recent past, cyber criminals might have used malware, or malicious software, to steal private, personal details and gain access to your accounts. But as more people wise up to the scheme, cyber criminals are moving on to remote access apps.  </p><p>Remote access apps are legitimate services that can be found in app stores, but in cases of fraud, the scammer uses the app to gain access to your personal information and accounts.</p><p>"Malware detection is pretty good and improves all the time. People are smarter about it: I got this file, should I really open that? And should I install this on my machine?" says Brian Kennedy, director of online/mobile fraud prevention and strategy at Citi. Under this scheme, "customers are tricked into downloading these [apps], and what they're doing is giving the bad actors access to their device," says Kennedy.</p><p><strong>What you can do: </strong>Don't agree to download any remote access apps — if you receive a call, message or email, disregard it. You can check if the claim is legitimate by logging into your account on the official website. </p><h2>4. Surprise account in your name scams </h2><p><strong>How they work: </strong>You receive a call from a debt consolidation or debt settlement company with an offer to negotiate with creditors and put all of your debt into one account, to make it easier to pay off debt faster. Soon after, you discover that you have a new banking or credit card account opened in your name with an exorbitant service fee added on top.</p><p>"All of a sudden, the person ends up in an account that they didn't really understand they were opening that has some really high dollar charge on it. It wasn't clear what they were getting into," says Wood. Often, the first time the victim learns they've been scammed is when the bank or credit card company reaches out because there haven't been any payments made to the account.  </p><p>"It can be confusing," says Wood, because sometimes the fee on the account is charged by a company that's not the one that was represented to them as a consolidation.</p><p><strong>What you can do:</strong> Don't give your information to a "debt consolidation company" or "debt settlement company." There are some legitimate services, but they could come with high fees. If you need to consolidate your debt, seek advice from a trusted financial advisor and work directly with a reputable financial institution.</p><h2>5. Mobile phone takeover scams</h2><p><strong>How they work: </strong>Your mobile phone abruptly stops working. There are no bars for cellular coverage and phone calls aren't coming in.   </p><p>What's happened here is a SIM card swap scheme. A cyber criminal has switched your phone number from one wireless provider to another, so your phone is no longer receiving calls. If you were to log in to your bank or credit card account and use two-factor authentication, you would not receive the one-time password that's been texted to your phone. Instead, the cyber-criminal is now receiving that information and can access your bank account, assuming they've already guessed the password to your bank or credit card account.</p><h2>3 ways to help protect yourself</h2><p>Bad players are after your personal information because it's the key to your accounts. Here are some steps you can take to help <a href="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/finance-101/protect-your-information-online">secure those details</a>.</p><h3>1. Be guarded with your private information</h3><p>Cyber criminals are using more sophisticated, targeted techniques on victims; they may often already know some information about you, like which state you live in or that you're a customer of a particular bank or company. To make it more difficult for criminals to gain access to your accounts, avoid disclosing personal or financial information when posting on social media.</p><h3>2. Vary your passwords</h3><p>Don't use the same password on multiple accounts. That makes it easier for cyber criminals to break into all of your accounts since all they have to do is find out that one password.  </p><h3>3. Be suspicious of any unsolicited contact</h3><p>Given the growing number of scam calls from fraudsters pretending to be legitimate companies, it's a good idea to be wary of providing information over the phone or through a link. Scammers have gotten good at spoofing calls, so even if the number that shows up seems to be from your bank or a company you trust, it might not be. Go to the official company site instead, or call the official number.</p>

Scams Happen. Here's What You Should Know.

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