New Year's Resolution: Avoiding Fraud and Scams

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The Better Business Bureau recommends adding a few precautionary steps to the New Year's resolution list to help make the upcoming days and months fraud-free:

  • Be cautious with email.  Be wary of unsolicited emails from a person or a company. Remember, scammers can make emails look like they are from a legitimate business, government agency, or reputable organization (even BBB!). Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails. 

  • Never to send money to strangers. If you haven't met a person face-to-face, don't send them money. This is especially true if the person asks you to transfer funds using a pre-paid debit card or CashApp. Money sent to strangers in this way is untraceable, and once it is sent, there's no getting it back. Scammers will try to trick you into panicking – so before making a move,  think the situation through. Don’t fall for it!

  • Do research before making online payments and purchases. Research the retailer before entering payment information when shopping online, or if asked to pay online, research the retailer before entering payment information. Ask: Is this a person or business I know and trust? Do they have a working customer service number? Where is the company physically located? Would I be making payments through a secure server (https://....com)? Have I checked to see if others have complained?

  • Use my best judgment when sharing my personal information. Sharing sensitive personal information with scammers opens the door to identity theft. Never share financial information, birthdate, address, Social Security/Social Insurance number, or Medicare number with an unsolicited caller.

  • Create strong, unique passwords for each account. Using strong, varied passwords across accounts makes it harder for fraudsters to access multiple accounts if one is compromised.

  • Enable two-factor authentication. Adding this layer of security to accounts, especially those involving finances or personal data, greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Be social media smart. Use privacy settings on social media and only connect with people you know. Be careful about including personal information in your profile, and never reveal your address and other sensitive information – even in a “fun” quiz. Scammers may use this information to make themselves pass as friends or relatives and earn your trust. Also, be careful when buying products you see on social media. BBB Scam Tracker has received thousands of complaints about misleading Facebook and Instagram ads.

  • Regularly check my financial statements. Committing to review bank and credit card statements can help catch unauthorized transactions early.

  • Educate myself about the latest scams. Staying informed on emerging scams helps you recognize and avoid new fraud tactics. 

To learn more about scams, go to BBB.org/ScamTips. For more about avoiding scams, check out BBB.org/AvoidScams. If a scam has targeted you, help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience at BBB.org/ScamTracker. The website for the BBB in Connnecticut can be seen here.