Dont Be A Victim!: How to Protect Yourself from Hoaxes, Scams, and Frauds

Protect yourself against fraud

Scammers are getting smarter and taking advantage of new technology, new products or services and major events to create believable stories that will convince you to give them your money or personal details. Review your privacy and security settings on social media. If you use social networking sites, such as Facebook, be careful who you connect with and learn how to use your privacy and security settings to ensure you stay safe.

If you recognise suspicious behaviour, clicked on spam or have been scammed online, take steps to secure your account and be sure to report it. Beware of any requests for your details or money. Don't agree to transfer money or goods for someone else: Be wary of unusual payment requests. Scammers will often ask you to use an unusual payment method, including preloaded debit cards, gift cards, iTunes cards or virtual currency such as Bitcoin.

Clues for spotting fake documents. Documents are easily faked. Documents such as flight itineraries and bank statements have simple, uncomplicated layouts even when they are legitimate because such businesses allow their customers to print online statements. If you're ever unsure, simply call the number on the back of your card not the one supplied by the email and ask the company if it's trying to contact you. Traditionally, these scams have involved con artists stealing the hearts of unsuspecting singles many of them seniors and then using various ploys to steal money.

Your Plan Before getting involved with anyone online, use Google or Spokeo. Finding "no results" is a red flag.

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Do a Google Image search for a profile picture. Keep in mind that people who are legitimately looking for love won't ask for money unless they're your kids. When most people hear identity theft, they think of someone stealing their credit card info and buying a big-screen. But you can't legally be held liable for fraudulent purchases like that. It's different, however, with medical identity theft.

These can include tests, prescription drugs and even operations. Your Plan Never surrender Social Security, Medicare or health insurance numbers to anyone you don't know and trust. Be particularly wary of free health checks offered at shopping malls, fitness clubs and retirement homes so-called rolling labs.

If they ask to photocopy your cards or ask you to sign a blank insurance claim form, don't do it, Nofziger says.

10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud | Consumer Information

After all, it's supposed to be free. It's also vital to review all statements from your insurance provider. If there are any charges you don't understand, call immediately. And when shopping online for prescription drugs or other health-related items, remember that if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. In September, news broke that Apple's normally secure app store had been compromised. Some developers had evidently used a fake version of Xcode hence dubbed Xcode Ghost to build their apps, not knowing it contained malware designed to steal passwords and do other devious things.

Your Plan Apple says it has purged its store of these malicious apps. But that doesn't mean it couldn't happen again.

Geek Squad's Woodworth recommends always reading an app's reviews before downloading and choosing proven, popular ones. Be aware, too, that you can limit an app's access to your location by adjusting your device's privacy settings, thus reducing the chance of being spied on. The key to every scammer's success is being able to put you under "emotional ether. At no time are we more vulnerable than after the loss of a loved one, and con artists know that.

Police say he scanned obituaries for prey, then pretended to be a bank official to trick them out of money. He may have been working the scam across the country for decades.

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Your Plan Ask a trusted family member to temporarily handle your financial responsibilities while you are grieving. Have that person follow up on any suspicious phone calls or emails. And be aware that while you are grieving, you may be more vulnerable to fraud tactics that play on your emotions. This rip-off involves getting an unsolicited email from McDonald's, Subway or another popular restaurant or retailer offering a free gift card if you click a link to activate it.

The pitch looks legit, but it's a phishing scam, meaning the perpetrator is either trying to install malware on your computer or gather personal info by having you complete an online questionnaire.

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Your Plan Repeat after us: Never click a link in an unsolicited email or divulge personal info, no matter how enticing the offer. Do a Google search such as "McDonald's gift card scam" and see if any warnings come up. In most cases, they will. Broadcast journalist Richard Lui's father, Stephen Lui, who suffers from dementia, became a victim of scam artists who bombarded him with hundreds of phone calls from fake charities and lotteries. The year-old former Presbyterian youth pastor and retired social worker for the city of San Francisco has always been outgoing and trusting.

Protect yourself against fraud

Exclusive program for members from The Hartford. Documents such as flight itineraries and bank statements have simple, uncomplicated layouts even when they are legitimate because such businesses allow their customers to print online statements. Clues for spotting a fake email. Scammers can easily fake an official-looking email, using the same logo and design as the real company. If you're not expecting an email, always be alert to a fake before clicking on any links or opening any attachments.

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Clues for spotting fake profiles. You can use image search services such as Google or TinEye. These are only a few of the follow up approaches scammers may use try to get more money from you. New approaches could be quite different from the original scam and could come quickly or some time later. Types of scams The ACCC provides information on the most common types of scams targeting the Australian community, and collects and publishes data on these scam types.

If you've lost money to a scam or given out your personal details to a scammer, you're unlikely to get your money back. However there are steps you can take straight away to limit the damage and protect yourself from further loss.