Cyber Safe Series
Freeze your credit and file to have any unused EINs closed as well
We covered in March of 2024 how to protect your deed in our social media posts. Scammers have begun to file transfer deeds on properties. Another good tip is to practice good hygiene with our credit. If you have unused EINs tied to companies you are now not using, talk with your CPA and get those closed. Scammers may have access to that information. Also, freeze your credit with all three bureaus. In 2017, my husband and I were unfortunately part of the IRS data breach. When I was able to finally get someone on the phone after waiting 2.5 hours on hold, yes you read that right, the system had crashed on their end due to so many people reporting the same issue. We had fraudulent returns, with refunds due, filed in our names. We now file with a pin from the IRS.
- Take a breath; slow down
- Develop a family safe word
- Call the company cited from THEIR website; not the email/text
- Arrogance/egotism that "it won't happen to me" makes us vulnerable
- Loneliness/Fear are powerful tools used by scammers
- When in doubt delete
- Social Media; over sharing in Facebook/Linkedin/dating apps
- Remove Cell phone numbers; dual factor authentication
- Don't take discussions to end to end encryption messaging What's App and Telegram
- One Tactics cited in the podcast is scammers take victims off social media to these encrypted platforms
- Request funding in crypto; big trigger
- Freeze credit at bureaus in addition to things like Lifelock
- Use a scam app to mark unsolicited calls
- Practice good hygiene on computer and phone; update apps/systems regularly
- Close unused EINs tied to defunct businesses
- Love scams; check your loved ones regularly and accept they are being trolled on Facebook regularly.
- ALWAYS use 2 factor authentication
- Arrogance, shame, loneliness, stress/life changes make us vulnerable; be AWARE
- Paypal/ Venmo/ Amazon; use credit cards only NO bank cards or bank accounts