EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
YES! The bad guys are still out to get you and it’s getting worse.
We’ve talked about this before but some quick reminders.
DON’T provide personal updates or your whereabouts on Facebook or other social media sites. Scammers will jump on this information to learn more about you and your habits.
SHRED-SHRED-SHRED all mail and other documents with your name, address, account numbers, etc. OR save for a neighborhood shredding event such as the ones sponsored by the City of Dana Point or the Monarch Beach Plaza.
FREEZE your credit scores, place alerts on your bank and credit card accounts, and consider signing up for an ID theft monitoring service.
BE VIGILLANT in reviewing your credit card billing statements. If you’re not sure that you made that purchase or charge, call the credit card company and ask who the vendor is, their telephone number and call to verify.
CREATE a strong password for all your web and other authentications and consider 2FA, a two-part authentication process. Examples: Facial recognition and a pass-code on your cell phone; security questions for online accounts.
NEVER, NEVER give out personal information over the phone unless you initiate the call and know the source.
CHARITABLE SOLICITATIONS over the phone— Check them out first, ask what percent of your donations go to administrative fees versus to the charity. (You’ll be surprised how many times they hang up on you.) Better yet, ask them to mail you a request with background info on the charity.
IRS CALLS—If you even see the caller ID, DON’T answer. The IRS will NEVER call you. They only mail hard copy requests.
SOCIAL SECURITY CALLS—NOPE, they don’t call either, so don’t be conned into providing ANY info. Simply hang-up.
GIFT CARDS are not exactly a scam, but they do expire leaving you with $0.00 if you don’t spend before the expiration date.
CYBERATTACKS are growing rapidly and tough to fight. BUT, aside from the protection software you can subscribe to, MERCURY INSURANCE now offers homeowners insurance aimed at computers, tablet, and cellphone protection if hacked. You might check out your own insurer to see if they offer same.
NEVER wire money to cover taxes on fake prize win- nings. YES, some folks are gullible to this type of windfall and there is no recourse once the money is sent.
DON’T fill out warranty cards for appliance purchases giving extra personal information such as annual earnings, etc. This info is often sold to a third party that will promise other deals over the phone and through mailings.
Need help if you have been scammed? In addition to reporting this activity to local law inforcement you can call the AARP Fraud Watch Help Line at (877) 908-3360 to assist in getting you to the right sources for possible action
and resolution.
—Kent Wellbrock
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