Cover Story
PART 2
PROTECT YOURSELF
DO THESE THINGS TODAY TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF LOSING MONEY (OR SLEEP) TO SCAMS
MAILBOX
▶︎ Informed Delivery is a free service from the U.S. Postal Service. The agency emails photos of letter-size mail expected to be delivered to you that day or shortly after. This is a great way to be sure that nothing is stolen from your mailbox by ID thieves. Sign up at InformedDelivery.usps.com.
▶︎ Pick up mail as quickly as possible after it’s delivered, and always take your outgoing mail directly to the post office. A hot fraud now is scammers stealing checks from mailboxes, erasing the ink and using them to steal from bank accounts.
FRONT DOOR
▶︎ Consider installing a video camera; they are increasingly less expensive, and they’re easy to install. If you don’t recognize a visitor, don’t answer.
▶︎ If you find yourself being pressured to buy or donate, have a refusal script ready (consider taping it near the door) that says, “I do not do business at my door, please leave me something to review. If I’m interested, I’ll call you.”
▶︎ Be wary of people posing as utility workers who show up unannounced. Don’t allow anyone in your house without an appointment.
GARBAGE
▶︎ Shred any papers that contain private information (financial statements, bills, shipping receipts) before putting them out for pickup. Don’t want to invest in a good cross-cut shredder? Many communities have shredding events or permanent drop-off sites. Get in the habit of dropping off your accumulated documents once every few months.
CREDIT CARDS
▶︎ Card skimming, in which the criminal affixes a credit card reader on top of a legitimate card reader at a store or gas station, is estimated to cause up to $1 billion in losses annually. When you are paying at a gas station or other point-of-sale location, inspect the device for loose/broken/scratched machinery to make sure someone hasn’t tampered with it. If you are unsure, notify the cashier and pay using an alternative method.
CREDIT REPORT
▶︎ Routinely check yours (many credit card companies provide it for free; if not, go to AnnualCreditReport.com or 1-877-322-8228). Watch for unusual activity; if you see any, report it immediately to the appropriate financial institution.
▶︎ Then freeze your credit report. This prevents scammers from opening new credit cards or making big purchases in your name. You can “unfreeze” it as needed for legitimate transactions. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for more information.
WALLET
▶︎ Remove cards and information you don’t need to carry (such as your Social Security or Medicare card). Make copies of the remaining cards (front and back) and store in a safe place.
▶︎ Audit your wallet and purse frequently. Take out any unnecessary items that collect and could compromise your personal information if lost or that would be a hassle to replace.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
▶︎ Create online accounts with each of your financial institutions. Come up with a unique password for each.
▶︎ Then get in the habit of reviewing the transaction lists on a weekly or biweekly basis. Be sure you can account for every listed transaction. Spot something odd or incorrect? Immediately report it.
SMARTPHONE
▶︎ If you have a newer model, turn on biometric identification (fingerprint or facial recognition); this will help prevent a thief from logging in to your phone.
▶︎ Send calls from unknown numbers to voicemail (you can enable this in the phone’s settings). Make sure your voicemail is set up and not full, so you can receive legitimate messages.
▶︎ Scammers are sending far more bogus texts, often posing as companies you routinely deal with. Never respond to an unsolicited business text; if you think it might be valid, call the organization or go online.
COMPUTER
▶︎ Turn on two-factor authentication for all secure websites you frequent, such as financial institutions or utility companies (find out how via its online security center). Then only someone logged in to your phone can receive the code to access those accounts.
▶︎ Yes, still consider subscribing to an antivirus software service. This remains the best protection against new attack methods.
EMAIL ACCOUNTS
▶︎ Actively designate unsolicited and unwanted email that shows up in your inbox as spam, so future emails from that site get blocked.
▶︎ Do not open file attachments in emails from businesses or people you don’t trust completely. Malware is often planted via email attachments.
For discounts on device protection plans, visit aarp.org/norton-identity-theft.
SOCIAL MEDIA
▶︎ Set your profile so only your friends can see your Facebook page. To do that, click the downward arrow button in the upper-right corner of your Facebook page, then click on Settings & Privacy and Privacy Checkup. This easy-to-use wizard will guide you through the settings. And never accept friend requests from people you don’t know or respond to random messages from strangers.
ONLINE STORES
▶︎ When typing in a URL, double- and triple-check the spelling to ensure you are on the correct page. Scammers often create a URL with one letter off from the authentic one in hopes you don’t catch it.
▶︎ Remove your credit card number and information from restaurant delivery and retail store sites. Pay using an e-payment service that keeps credit card info on a highly secure site.
YOUR BRAIN
▶︎ Learn how to not engage. You are under no obligation in these modern times to respond to calls, emails or texts from strangers—especially given that so many of them are fraudulent.
▶︎ Learn to say no. Sometimes a caller will get through. Get tough: Say, “I do not do business over the phone. Goodbye.” Then hang up without remorse.
▶︎ Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t sound right, run it by someone you trust and take extra time to think about it.
SWIPE TO CONTINUE ➔