Security

After all, the public Search Engines are secure, aren't they?

Well, think again! Scammers are making "look-alike" websites with the ultimate goal of stealing your login credentials.

When you click on the search result, you may click on a spoofed website that looks just like the site you're used to seeing, for example, the login page to your bank site.

Once you input your login credentials, you might be asked to update your account information or to provide information for verification purposes, like your social security number, account number, password, or other information used to verify your identity. What you don't know is that the fraudster is using your login credentials or personal information and logging in to the "real" site to steal your money.

Protect Yourself

• Take a close look at the website address. Are there any extra characters that don't belong? Try copying and pasting the website address into a new tab, does it still look the same?
• Bookmark important websites. Keep a bookmark of each legitimate website you use. Clicking on the bookmark, instead of searching or following a link ensures you're using the right site each time.
• Be wary of Search Engine Ads, especially if you're simply trying to find and access your banking or other login page.
• Never use public, unsecured Wi-Fi for banking, shopping or entering personal information online.

They say there has been suspicious activity on your card and need some information from you to verify whether the charges are valid. Sounds legitimate, right?

Having your card issuer warn you of potential fraud is great service, right? Sadly, scammers are using this tactic to commit real fraud with information they've already compromised from another source that often includes your personal and card information.

The scammers may have some information already, for example your name, address, or card number. What they're really doing is tricking you into giving them the additional information they need, such as your card security code or a One Time Passcode that is sent to your smart phone or email. Pretending to be someone trustworthy is an easy and popular way for scammers to acquire the information they need to commit fraud with your card.

Protect Yourself

• Only trust calls you initiate. Only give your card information during calls you initiate. When calling your card issuer's customer service, only use the number on the back of your card or other reliable source.
• Don't give out or confirm card information on any phone call that you didn't initiate. Scammers may have obtained some credit card information and need to confirm the accuracy or get just one more piece of information from you, like a PIN or security code.
• Validate any call-back phone numbers. Put your financial institution's Risk Management phone number in your contacts so it's easier to recognize as a valid phone number.
• Verify activity on your credit or debit card or sign up for Visa Purchase alerts, a convenient way for you to monitor card activity outside of your normal patterns.

They use lots of technical terms to convince you the problem is real. They may even ask you to open some files or run a scan on your computer and then tell you the results show a problem... but there isn't one.

It's a tactic scammers use to get you to give them remote access to your computer, with the ultimate goal of getting your credit card or online banking information under the ruse of charging you for their "phony" services.

Or worse yet, while they have remote access, they download malware that gives them access to your computer and to sensitive data like user names and passwords.

Protect Yourself

• Hang up on (or close out pop-ups from) unsolicited callers offering to fix computer problems. Companies like Apple and Microsoft will not contact you for tech support unless you have requested help, and they will never ask for personal information.
• If you're worried about a virus or malware, call your security software company directly, using the phone number on its website or product package or consult a trusted security professional.
• Do not make a payment, give sensitive information such as credit card details, or allow remote access to your computer to someone who calls out of the blue offering tech support.

If it sounds too good to be true, that's because it is.

The federal government awards billions of dollars a year to organizations for all sorts of programs, but it does not give grants to individuals for their personal use. Fraudsters dangle the prospect of free government money to trick people out of their money.

If you respond to the pitch, they'll ask you to send a wire transfer, gift cards or provide your credit card or bank account information to cover processing fees for the grant. They may also ask for personal information to verify your identification. Once you send the processing fees, the promised grant never materializes.

Worse yet, the fraudsters now have your personal and financial information they need to perpetrate identity theft.

Protect Yourself

• Don't give out your bank account information to anyone you don't know.
• Don't pay any money for a "free" government grant. If you have to pay money to claim a "free" government grant, it isn't really free.
• Look-alikes aren't the real thing. Some fraudsters use Internet technology to disguise their area code in caller ID systems. It may look like they're calling from Washington, DC but they could be calling from anywhere in the world.

Your new love interest always says all the right things, sends you flattering messages, and professes their love. You think you've met your true soul mate and quickly agree to communicate by email or phone.

You've been communicating now for months, even years but you never actually meet in person. They have a great career that keeps them abroad for long periods, like the military or a doctor working overseas.

Every time you plan to meet something comes up, usually an emergency of some sort. Over time, their emergencies lead to requests to borrow money, to pay for a car repair or to buy medicine, you know, just a loan until they get their next big "grant," "paycheck," or better yet "inheritance."

As time goes by, they steadily increase the amount they need, often telling you a sob story that pulls at your heartstrings.

Protect Yourself

• Use caution when communicating with someone online. Many scammers create dating profiles with the ultimate goal of scamming you out of your money.
• If you believe you're involved in a romance scam, stop communicating with the person immediately.
• Be wary of requests for money. If you never met in person, don't send money or gift cards.
• Never give your bank account details to someone you've never met, they could be using you to move illicit money from one place to another, this is commonly done to launder money.