‘Tis the season for lots of Scamming

‘Tis the season for lots of Scamming! What you need to know to Stay Protected via E-mail, Phone & Text this 2021 Holiday.

Financial Tip Friday is brought to you in partnership with the 1st National Bank of Dennison. 

for 1st National Bank of Dennison is posting reminders that banks will never call, text or e-mail you asking silly questions like “What’s your opinion on fruitcake” nor would they ask for your Social Security, checking account, or pin number!  During this holiday season, we may not think twice about someone needing information that may be related to an online order- however, there are lots of scamming this Christmas season.

A big scam currently going on is about gift cards- watch this video:

Red Flags

Gut feeling that the phone call, text message or e-mail is not real?  Look for these red flags.

• • They have a sense of urgency
  • Unable to speak it over or thinking about it and call back later
  • High-pressure language with scare-tactics
  • Random links in a text message
  • Asking for sensitive account information such as passwords or Social Security Number
  • Insisting they can send you a text login pin number and then asking for it
  • Asking you to go to a website
  • Requesting you call a different phone number than your local bank
  • E-mail containing typos or misunderstood grammar
  • Suspicious links or attachments

Be Prepared 

• Be cognizant of the red flags
• Create a multi-factor authentication on your financial institutions logins and e-mail login
• Create random or very difficult to guess passwords
• Always call your local bank and question
• Use a malware or web protection anti-virus program with an updated browser

Fell for a Scam?

With kids in the background, 100s of thoughts and to do lists running through your brain, sometimes being caught off-guard and realizing that phone or text was a scam after you gave away important information.

The American Bankers Association website has helpful ideas of what to do if you accidentally fell for a scam:

• Call your bank immediately and speak to the fraud department.
• Freeze you bank accounts and add challenging questions
• Change your passwords or pins
• Check your credit report
• Consider signing up for an identity theft or identity lock

 

Take the American Bankers Association Quiz if you think you know how to spot a scam!

TAKE THE QUIZ

One more scam to watch out for is the stimulus scams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hIbIfcio_8&list=PLM0VFPSPoWJP5qAovVx64F6-fG0wSKSW2&index=3

For help with savings, spending, and investing, speak to a local banker to help set up a solid foundation!

Mrs TAZ

Reporting

‘Tis the season for lots of Scamming

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