Is that your phone ringing again from an unknown number? It seems that every day we’re getting more and more calls, texts, and emails from scammers who want our personal and/or financial information.

Here are 5 ways you can better protect yourself against scams:

  1. Be careful when responding to unsolicited emails, texts and phone calls. Don’t give out personal information over the phone, via text, through email or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact and know who you’re dealing with.
  2. Protect your devices by regularly updating your systems, using antivirus software, and using two-factor authentication where available. Make sure you use strong and unique passwords for every account. Also remember to choose the strongest privacy settings for your social media accounts.
  3. Change your passwords and PINs. When was the last time you changed the PIN on your debit card or the password for online banking? We know it can be hard to keep track of all those passwords and PINs, but experts recommend changing them at least twice a year, even if your accounts haven’t been compromised. Consider using a password manager that can help you safely manage your passwords, while only having to remember one password to access all of your online accounts
  4. Monitor your transactions. Don’t wait until the end of the month to check your bank or credit card statements. Check your bank and credit card statements frequently and look for unusual or unknown transactions. You can also set up transaction alerts on your bank accounts to stay informed and monitor your bank activity.
  5. Clicking on links via text. Before you click a link or send money to anyone whether it’s a family member or a friend, confirm that you are sending money to the right person by giving them a call. Clicking on spam links could install malware that can collect information from your phone. It can take you to fake sites that look real but are designed to steal your information.

Questions? Email us at members@teibas.com or call us at 416-637-6789, (toll-free 1-800-267-0602).

We’re here to help!