Protect yourself! Keep a close eye on your bank accounts to make sure your financial information hasn’t been compromised. Scammers are always looking for victims; follow these tips to keep your money safe and lower your risk of becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft:
- Set up spending alerts on your accounts to monitor financial activity.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails, texts or online communications to protect yourself from phishing attempts.
- Freeze your credit to prevent unauthorized credit checks and the opening of new accounts in your name.
- Review your financial statements regularly for any unfamiliar transactions and report them immediately.
- Exercise caution when using cryptocurrency, as it is often used for anonymous transactions. It is also very difficult to trace if stolen.
- Do not send personal checks in the mail; utilize more secure payment methods.
If you need to report a fraud or scam, head to the FTC’s website or www.reportfraud.ftc.gov. To check if your email address has been in a data breach head to www.havibeenpwned.com.