As fraud and cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, we must stay aware of potential threats and identify them before they cause harm. Here are a few ways to ensure your information and online accounts remain secure:
- Look for common signs of phishing, such as requests to send personal or financial information, shortened URLs, incorrect email addresses or links, or urgent messages that prey on your emotions, especially messages that claim there will be drastic consequences if you do not respond immediately. When in doubt, contact a trusted source, such as an official website or a known phone number or email address for the person supposedly contacting you.
- Strengthen passwords by making them long, random, and unique to each website or account.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA), also called two-factor authentication, two-step authentication, or something similar, for your social media account, bank account, email account, etc. Additionally, only approve MFA sign-in requests you initiate.
- Keep devices and apps up to date and turn on auto updates when available.
Fraud attempts will keep adapting, but even the most sophisticated attempts can often be stopped by slowing down, verifying information, and reporting concerns when something does not seem right.