With the increasing prevalence of scams, it’s key to stay alert at all times to protect your personal and financial information. Based on a 2022 report from the Better Business Bureau, online purchase scams were the riskiest type of scam for those ages 35 to 64. But the scams don’t stop there. Employment scams are on the rise, which lead people to believe that they have just applied for a promising job when they have really just provided personal information to a scammer.
Here are 5 top areas to watch out for scams:
- Online purchase scams
- Fake employment applications
- Scams involving cryptocurrency
- Home improvement solicitors
- Advance fee loans
How can you keep your information safe from scammers? View these tips, courtesy of the BBB:
- Never send money to someone you have never met face-to-face.
- Don’t click links or attachments in unsolicited emails or texts.
- Beware of scammers mimicking officials seals, fonts and other brand details on a website or within an email.
- Don’t buy from online URL’s that are not secure (ex: there is no “s” behind http in the URL).
- Take caution when interacting with anyone you met online.
- Never share personally identifiable information with some who contacts you unsolicited.
- Be cautious urgent requests. Do not act immediately under pressure.
- When purchasing online, use secure and traceable transactions, such as gift cards.
- Work with businesses that have proper licensing, insurance and identification when possible.
- Pay close attention to what you share on social media.
Click here to view the Better Business Bureau’s full Risk Report Highlights.
