Since the pandemic began, we’ve started seeing COVID-19-related scams, from information being stolen from vaccine cards to fake stimulus checks.
Phishing emails and phone calls from spoof numbers are becoming increasingly common as scammers come up with ways to pass off as trusted organizations.
Similar to other fraud alert scams, some of our iQ customers have received calls on spoof numbers that match ours, with callers falsely identifying themselves as the iQ Fraud Department.
If you receive a phone call from “the IRS” that doesn’t seem quite right, it may be a tax-related scam in an attempt to get your banking information.
Ever purchased something from an online shop only to never actually receive it? Scammers are now creating fake e-commerce stores to swindle consumers.
As cryptocurrency grows in popularity, more scams pop up, often involving fake prizes, contests, giveaways, or early investment opportunities.
As a reminder, we will never ask you to click a link or share account info through a text message.
Avoid accessing your account from a shared computer or over an unsecured or public Wi-Fi network that’s easy to hack.
Make sure to update your computer software regularly to ensure you have the best protection in place to protect against emerging threats.
One of the best ways to protect yourself from cybersecurity threats is by using antivirus and antimalware software from a reliable company.
One of the best and easiest ways to prevent fraud is to review your account online and look for any unusual activity or unauthorized transactions.
Change your online credentials often and consider investing in a password manager tool such as LastPass to protect your accounts.
Receive digital alerts on your account balance, get reminders about upcoming bills, and monitor suspicious transactions.
The best way to avoid online scams is to use common sense and be cautious about where you share personal information. If you receive a request for personal information, think carefully before responding—even if it looks legitimate.
You can secure your bank account by monitoring your transactions, setting up custom alerts, changing your password often, safeguarding your physical card, and being mindful of where you share your private information.
If you suspect you’re the victim of an online scam, change your account passwords, contact us (or whoever you bank with), and report the scam to the FTC. You may also opt to freeze your credit to be as proactive as possible.
A number of credible agencies offer online resources to help consumers protect themselves from scams, such as FTC Scam Alerts and the BBB Scam Tracker. You can also subscribe to the iQ blog for regular updates.
Although older adults often fall prey to scams, these days nearly everyone is at risk in some way, shape, or form. That’s why it’s important to be diligent about your online security as well as any common or recent scams.
There are a number of ways scammers can access your personal information, from credit card skimming and phishing attempts to compromised passwords and website security breaches.
Some red flags to look out for include unsecured websites, typosquatting, suspicious links or attachments, attempts to access your personal information, and almost anything that just seems too good to be true.
iQ offers identity theft recovery services at no additional cost to all primary account holders. If you are a victim of or suspect identity theft for any reason, simply let us know and we’ll put you in touch with a professional recovery advocate.
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