Be aware of what you share on social media. Scammers can use fraudulent messages to get your personal information. Phishing is one of the biggest problems associated with cyber fraud and usually happens through email, text message, or phone. ..

Cybercriminals use social media to target individuals with phishing attacks. By default, social media profiles are public, which makes it easy for cybercriminals to find personal information. To protect yourself from financial fraud, you should check your privacy settings and be careful of fake or unknown profiles.

6 ways to protect yourself against financial fraud

Improve your password protection

Many online stores, financial institutions and service providers provide Double Factor Authentication (DFA). This feature requires you to enter two pieces of information - your name and password - in order to access your account. As part of your account settings, enable DFA. This additional step provides an incredible level of protection.

Protect your email

The US Postal Service offers a free service called Informed Delivery, in which the organization emails photos of letter-size mail that is likely to arrive soon. This is an excellent approach to ensuring identity thieves don’t steal anything from your mailbox.

Manage your emails

If you find yourself receiving unwanted emails, start marking them as spam so that they are automatically deleted. If the spam in your inbox won’t stop, try different email providers. ..

monitor your accounts

Regularly accessing your account and setting up online bank notifications can help you monitor your account balances and activity, and quickly identify fraudulent activity. ..

Shred confidential documents

Until you reconcile your financial documents with your monthly statement, keep them safe and store them away in a safe place. File your taxes safely and keep your savings and checking account statements.

Rockland Trust’s online statement extract service provides a concise and up-to-date view of our statements. You can access them for a maximum of three years. Keep an eye out for our Shred Events, which take place at our branches throughout the year.

filter your phone calls

Your smartphone can help reduce spam calls by identifying you as a trusted contact. If the call is unknown to you, you can refuse to answer or leave a message.

Final Words

Here are some tips to help you stay safe when it comes to financial fraud:

  1. Be aware of scams that target seniors. There are a number of scams that target seniors, such as fake investment opportunities, Ponzi schemes, and fraudulent bill collectors. Be especially vigilant if someone you know is asking for money or trying to sell you something.
  2. Educate yourself about financial scams. There are a number of resources available to help you learn about financial scams and how to avoid them. For example, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has an online resource called “Scams You Should Know” that provides information on a variety of scams, including investment frauds and Ponzi schemes. The FTC also has a website called “File A Complaint” which allows consumers to report suspected fraud or scam activities.
  3. Keep your personal finances secure. Always keep your personal finances secure by keeping track of your bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and other important information. Also make sure that all your financial documents are up-to-date and accessible in case you need to prove your identity in case of an emergency.
  4. Don’t let scammers take advantage of you financially. Don’t let scammers take advantage of your emotions or ignorance by convincing you to invest in a fraudulent scheme or give them access to your bank account or other personal information ..