Many of us are familiar with the scam where the Grandmother gets the call from the grandchild that says they are stranded somewhere and they need them to send money Western Union right? Well if you didn't you do now. Or the email that a friend or co-worker is stranded probably in the same location as the grandchild. And they are asking you and probably eveybody in your email list to fund that great vacation they are on together! Funny right. No, not really. Because they happen every year.
- Think before you click! In addition to emails, be weary of online ads, applications, eGreeting cards and much more. Cybercriminals mimic legitimate content making it difficult to detect, so lookout for slightly altered URLs or receiving an email with links from an unknown person or business.
- Don't trust a site or name you don't know and don't fall for the "too good to be true."
- Don't invite the "microsoft operations department technician" into your computer. He will call and say you have a computer with the serial number c260700126 (example) and you have a bad virus. If you give us access to your computer online we can go in and fix it. And just pay us $300 online with your credit or debit card. Best believe they can get into your computer they are hackers!
- Have unique, complex passwords for sites that store your card information when shopping online and change your passwords frequently.
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Be cautious of the charities you are giving to online. Visit http://give.org/charity-reviews/national/
to make informed decisions regarding your charities of choice. I like this one because you can find an index of charities to see a review or see if they are legitimate or scams. - Take preventive measures. Ensure home computers, laptops, and tablets are protected with antivirus and anti-spyware software.
- When traveling call your Bank or Credit Union to let them know you will be out of the Country for example. They can help monitor your credit cards for you.
All in all stay safe and have a very Merry and Happy Holiday Season!
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