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6 Ways to Protect Yourself from Fraud
Sep 20, 2022
You might already know that financial scams have exploded in numbers ever since the Internet became widely used by the general public. It’s easy to pretend to be just about anyone online, and email addresses can even be faked. So, if you receive a message instructing you to wire money to a person or agency, that message should instantly be viewed with suspicion.
Recently, the incidence of “digital money movement scams” has been growing. Services like Zelle, Venmo, and Paypal allow us to easily send money to one another at the touch of a button. And so, you might be tempted to pay a bill or donate to a cause without fully investigating where the money is going.
If you receive a request to wire money to any of these people, stop and step away from your computer or smartphone!
- Any government agency (they don’t request money by email)
- Someone who claims your account has been compromised
- People who request you to send money to “yourself”
- Cryptocurrency websites or salespeople whose legitimacy you cannot verify
- Any telemarketer or other salesperson asking you to make a purchase
- Any stranger who tells you a “hard luck” story
Remember that con artists often attempt to exploit your emotions. So any message that incites fear of some type of consequence, hope for a get-rich-quick scheme, or desire to help someone with an unfortunate circumstance is likely to be predatory.
If you wonder whether a message from a government agency or other official-looking source is legitimate, pick up your phone and call them instead. Email addresses can be faked, but you will know you have called the legitimate agency.
As for other ways to keep your assets safe, let’s discuss this at your next appointment with us. We endeavor to help our clients feel secure about where their money is stored and where it is going.
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