Five Tips for Fraud Prevention

It’s a new year, but scammers are up to their same old games (plus, likely new ones as they’re always seeking new ways to scheme). This year and always, American 1’s Fraud Fighters are here to help you stay clear of scammers. Below, we have five tips to help you stay protected.

1. Make sure your information is up to date: It’s important that your financial institution has your updated information, including new addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Correct contact information can help prevent your personal information from ending up in a scammer’s hands. Additionally, this ensures your financial institution can contact you if necessary.
2. Keep an eye on your accounts: Monitoring your credit card transactions, bank accounts, and credit reports often is one of the best ways to sustain good financial wellness. In addition, financial institutions will never ask for personal information, such as passwords or PINs, over the phone, in emails, or via text. Contact your financial institution immediately if you notice anything suspicious while monitoring your accounts.
3. Shred personal documents: While it can be tempting to get rid of documents that have been sitting in your junk drawer for a while, keep in mind that scammers look for thrown-out mail with personal information. It’s best to shred documents containing personal information and account numbers. At American 1, we offer multiple free Community Shred Day Events throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye out for our next one in your community!
4. Consider using a VPN (virtual private network): In today’s digital world, it’s scary how many scammers are roaming the web. VPNs are one of the best ways to stay protected as they provide a secure encrypted tunnel between your devices and a web server or email host.
5. Trust your gut: If something feels off, it probably is. If you suspect fraud, contact your financial institution right away. And never give away your personal information if you’re unsure of the source.

We recommend contacting your financial institution if you suspect you may have been scammed. You can also file a report to the Federal Trade Commission, your state attorney general, or your state’s consumer protection agency.

To read more content from Fraud Fighters, visit www.thefraudfighters.org.

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