Avoiding Financial Fraud Online- First Steps

Every year, the rate of cyber-crime rises. Scammers have a dozen ways of getting to your money, and many fraud types are intertwined. As more commerce moves to digital mediums, so have the criminals. The Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that the center received more than 300,000 complaints in 2017, with reported losses of more than $1.4 billion.  Below are four common fraud tactics, along with recommendations that can help prevent you from becoming a victim:

Account Hacking: Many large financial institutions offer extra security through their web access. It is called “2 Factor Authentication” and requires not only your username and password, but an additional text code or phone call to verify you are the one logging into your account. Adding this feature can prevent account access to anyone who has obtained only your username and password.

 Email Phishing: The key to avoiding phishing is to use context clues. If something about an email you received seems off key, don’t trust it. Often the sender’s display name will look legitimate, but the actual sending address is not. If the email looks urgent and provides a link- call the company directly or go directly to their web address. Avoid clicking any links provided in an email - those may take to you to an identical site designed to steal your username and password.

Advance Fee Scams: When buying things online, check the selling company against the better business bureau. For checkout, try to use PayPal or Visa checkout, which can provide extra protection against stolen credit card information.

Identity Theft: Criminals can get the information they need to assume your identity from a variety of sources, including rifling through your trash, or by compromising your credit or bank information. Shredding private information is key, as is monitoring all financial transactions to your bank, credit card company, and credit score monthly. Immediately report suspicious activity and put a freeze on your account until it’s been resolved. Credit monitoring services are available and run around $10 per month.