Vigilance is key to protecting yourself from scams.
You worked hard for your money.
You have earned an honest living.
You want to keep and protect what you have earned.
Unfortunately, there are people who will try to weasel it away from you.
How can you spot financial scams and scammers?
According to a recent Kiplinger article “How to Spot a Scam: Here are 3 I Dodged,” there are a few common scams to keep on your radar.
Phone, Email, and Mail Scams
Beware.
These make look or sound official.
They may also be “from” a legitimate organization.
But not so fast - you should not be trusting merely because you recognize the name of the supposed sender.
Be on the lookout for grammatical errors or emails from a Gmail rather than an official company account.
Quizzes
You see a link for a harmless looking quiz.
It will match you to a movie star most like you.
Be careful.
These are clever ploys scammers deploy to get folks to divulge information often used for security questions.
If the scammer already has your bank information, Social Security number, and name, you may be giving them the last part of the puzzle in getting your money.
Computer warnings
You receive a warning when browsing online.
It says your computer is under threat.
You need to call a specific number to get help.
The individual on the other line asks for your bank account information and for remote access to your computer in order to fix the problem.
These are all red flags.
Microsoft will never ask you to do this.
Be wary of any demand for immediate action.
Scams are a big deal.
More than $16 billion was taken from 15.4 million Americans in 2016.
Seniors are primary targets.
Be especially vigilant when you recognize any of the above warning signs.
Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.
Reference: Kiplinger (February 26, 2018) “How to Spot a Scam: Here are 3 I Dodged”
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