Cyber Security Awareness

‘Tis The Season For Scams

Scam Prevention Tips

Gift Card Scams. Budgets can become tight when finding gifts for your loved ones, so any financial relief is welcomed. You may, however, come across emails or pop-up ads offering free gift cards. Be wary of these tempting opportunities. They are often a ploy to collect your personal information that can be later used to steal your identity.

Charity Scams. Charity scams can take place online and even over the phone. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers will rush people into donating, or trick them by thanking them for a donation they never paid for and then asking for payment. They will also use vague and sentimental claims while asking for a donation but won’t detail how they’ll donate your money. Always research any charity before you donate and never give money by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.

Package Delivery Scams. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warns of delivery notification scam calls and texts. These text messages and calls look like they’re from a legitimate mail or package courier, such as the US Postal Service, and include a fake tracking link. The link will lead you to a website to enter personal information, or it will install malware, software designed to gain unauthorized access, on your phone or computer. The malware will then start stealing your information.

Fake Gift Exchanges. You're invited via social media to join a gift exchange, which sounds harmless and fun. Why wouldn't it be? If you buy one $10 gift for a stranger, you will receive as many as 36 gifts back! It's a hoax with the same premise as a pyramid scheme where it relies on constantly recruiting new participants. In the US, pyramid schemes are illegal, so it's best to just respectfully decline any invitations to participate.

Emergency Scam. No one wants to hear a family member or friend is dealing with an emergency, like a serious accident or incarceration. We quickly want to help, which is an admirable trait, but scammers take advantage of it. They target people claiming to be a family member or friend where the circumstance requires money to be resolved. Before sending any money, verify their story with other family and friends, but call directly. You can also ask questions that would be hard for an impostor to answer correctly.

Bogus Websites. Online shopping is convenient especially when trying to avoid the holiday shopping rush. When you do shop online, make sure to only use legitimate websites. Scammers use URLs that look remarkably similar to those of legitimate sites. Always double-check the URL before making a purchase and be wary of sites where the brand name is included with long URLs.

Malware Email. Don't be quick to click! Clicking on the wrong link or downloading a scammer's attachment can result in malware spreading to your computer. This computer virus or "bug" can steal personal information or even hold your device hostage unless you pay a price. Links and attachments can come in the form of emails or pop-up advertisements.

Puppy Scams. Pets make great gifts, but there's a lot you should first consider. Should you decide it's the right decision, be careful about adopting a pet online. You could end up with a puppy mill pooch, or nothing at all. Fake pet sellers can lure you into thinking you're getting a four-legged friend, only to take your money and not deliver.

• If you feel that someone is scamming you, don’t respond to the email, and block it. If it’s a phone call – hang up!
• If you provide your personal information (account, date of birth, online banking userID, password, etc.) contact your financial institution immediately.
• Use multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
• Update security software on your computer and mobile device.

Golden Bank, N.A. is committed to safeguarding your personal information. Your identity is one of the most important assets you own. It is important to keep your information safe from criminals who could potentially harm your financial well-being and reputation. The techniques used by identity thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated; however, there are ways to keep your identity from being hijacked.

RISK CONTROL

You can protect yourself from most forms of identity theft. The best way to stay protected is to stay educated on the latest risks. Common ways identity thieves may attempt to steal your information include:

• Email scams, such as Phishing, where you receive an email from a scam artist attempting to obtain your sensitive information such as social security number, credit card information, or bank account information. You can avoid this type of scam by:
  • Not responding to an email requesting confidential information
  • Being cautious when opening attachments, especially executable files
  • Not clicking on any link within an email. Instead, type in the known website address for the bank or company into your web browser
  • Not calling phone numbers within suspicious emails. Instead, call the telephone number on the company’s or bank’s known website

• Internet attacks such as viruses, spyware, and keystroke loggers. Ways to protect yourself from this type of attack include:
  • Installing and maintaining up-to-date antivirus and anti-spyware protection
  • Using a firewall
  • Keeping your computer’s operating system and hardware up-to-date
  • Using only trusted websites when downloading items such as music, movies, and photographs from the Internet
  • Being cautious when using public computers to perform any personal transaction
  • Set strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone. Combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols to increase complexity of your password. A separate password for every account helps to thwart cyber criminals

• Telephone scams such as Vishing where a caller calls claiming to be from a bank or company and attempts to get information about you and/or your account. You can protect yourself from this type of scam by:
  • Verifying the identity of the caller
  • Returning the call to a number that you confirm from another source such as a trusted website or paper statement
  • Being suspicious anytime your personal information is requested over the phone

Additionally, any paper statements containing your personal information should be safeguarded or shredded to protect from identity thieves going through your trash. Monitor your account activity regularly so that you can quickly identify any unauthorized activity. Report lost or stolen checks, debit cards, and ATM cards immediately.