Meet Hal. He’s a cyber‐hacker, out to steal your identity, and he’s come up with a lot of different ways to go about it.
Once he has the information he needs, Hal might withdraw money from your bank account, set up new credit accounts to make expensive purchases, get health services using your name or insurance, or sell your personal information to someone else.
Hal could rack up thousands of dollars of debt before you even realize your identity has been stolen. And it could take years to untangle the mess. It could even cost you money if you have to hire a lawyer or other professional to help you. Hal is clever. Watch out!
He’ll use one of his many tricks to try to get you to give up your information, such as Phishing.
Phishing is the collection of personal information through an unsolicited email.
Here’s how it works:
You get an email containing a link that appears to be from your financial institution or other business.
When you follow the link, Hal sends you to a fake website that looks like the real deal. But it’s actually set up to capture any personal information you enter.
Smishing and vishing are similar to phishing. But instead of an email, you get an unsolicited text or voice‐ mail message.
For example, you might receive a text or voicemail message informing you of a problem with your bank or credit card account. When you respond, Hal gets the information he needs to steal from your account or charge purchases on your card.
You don’t have to take what Hal is dishing out.
There are many things you can do to fight back.
Use a complex password or fingerprint scan to access your phone, to protect yourself if your phone is lost or stolen.
Enable two‐step verification ‐‐ an additional layer of security beyond your password ‐‐ to safeguard your email and online accounts.
For extra security, install and use your financial institution’s mobile banking app instead of going to their website.
Don’t forget to create a unique and complex password for access. Always say “no” to automatic logins.
Never use public Wi‐Fi to access your financial accounts.
Avoid sharing personal details with the public on social networking sites.
Review credit card and bank statements regularly for any transactions you didn’t make.
Monitor your credit reports to spot accounts you didn’t open.
You can request free reports at annualcreditreport.com.
Identity thieves like Hal are constantly looking for new ways to commit fraud. Be proactive about protecting your information. To learn more about how you can protect your financial wealth schedule a free consultation with us here.