Don’t Fall for Bank Scams: Easy Tips to Protect Your Money
Protect Your Money from Bank Scams You’ve heard of door-to-door scams, and your home video system can even help spot those people. Also, many phone scams exist. Now, bank scams are a big problem. These bank scams happen in many ways. For example, you might get calls, emails, or letters that look just like ones from your bank. But remember this key thing: banks will never ask you for secret information over the phone. So, ifsomeone asks for it, it’s probably not your bank calling. This new bank scam makes many people very careful about sharing their personal details. The scammer on the phone will tell you there’s a safety problem with your account or bank card. They’ll also say you can fix the problem right then. However, normally, if there’s an issue with your account, you call the bank, not the other way around. While keeping your bank accounts secure, don’t forget your home by contacting SPS Fire & Security. Consequences of Bank Scam Calls If this ever happens to you, follow one quick rule: Wait at least five minutes. Then, call your bank using the number on the back of your bank card. Why wait five minutes? It’s for your safety. The scammer calling you isn’t your bank, so they won’t hang up right away. They want you to start dialing fast. If you dial right away, you might think you’re calling your bank, but the fake caller is still on the line! This could be very bad. Many problems can happen if you aren’t careful with your bank account and cards. Your account will become empty. The bank account card that has certain limit on it will be used to the max. You will and could become a victim of identity theft. Chances of other accounts you are associated with being hacked increases. What Can You Do to Avoid Bank Scams? Your bank won’t call you about problems with your account. Usually, you call them. So, remember this. Your bank will never ask you to move money between accounts. Again, you are the one who calls your bank or goes online to move your money. If someone calls and says they are your bank, wait five minutes before you call your bank back. Tell your bank what happened. They can then freeze your account. This stops the scammer from getting to your money, so you don’t lose money or become a victim of identity theft. Never give out any info to someone who calls and says they are your bank. This includes your name, address, phone number (they should have it if they called you!), secret questions, account numbers, Social Security number, and more. If you have older children who might answer the phone and know your bank info, warn them about these scams.Some kids might not know better and could accidentally tell a scammer your private details. Contact Your Rochester Security Alarm Company It’s important to keep every part of your life safe. You don’t just need to protect your bank accounts; you also need to guard your home and everything you’ve worked for. Luckily, home security systems help you do that. For example, if someone knocks on your door trying to sell you something fake or asking for your information, your home camera system can catch their face. Also, if someone tries to get into your home, whether you’re there or not, you and the security company will know right away, so you can deal with it fast. If you have become a victim in any bank scams contact your bank you are associated with for help. If you have any questions associated home and phone security contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.
The Most Common Phone Scams and How to Outsmart Them
Identifying the Most Common Phone Scams Scammers are everywhere. We deal with door-to-door, email, and internet scams. Now, scam artists use new tricks to cheat people over the phone. These common phone scams can even lead to robbery. Scammers might be checking to see who is home, if you have a security system, and other important details. Despite technological advances, the most common phone scams are getting more and more popular as a way to steal someone’s identity. Scammers find this type of fraud easier and safer for them. Unfortunately, it’s harder to catch a phone scammer because there’s no paper trail, unlike on the internet. Plus, they can manipulate caller ID systems to show false information. Can You Hear Me Now? Recently, a new phone scam called “Can You Hear Me Now?” has emerged. With this trick, the scammer tries to record your voice. After they ask, “Can you hear me now?” and you say “yes,” the scammer then claims you’ve agreed to something. As you talk, the scammer gains access to your personal information or anything else on your phone. They may also use many other questions to gather your information. Some other questions they might ask include: Are you the lady of the house? Are you a homeowner? Do you pay the household telephone bill? Scams like this are becoming more popular and there are many ways that you can protect yourself from them. Protecting Yourself From Theft Through Common Phone Scams Don’t Recognize Phone Number: If you ever see an unknown number calling, or if it says “restricted,” chances are it’s someone you don’t know. When this happens, simply let the call go to voicemail. Scammers never leave messages. If it’s a legitimate caller, they will leave one. Act Slowly: Don’t always rush to answer your phone. If you quickly pick up, thinking it’s someone you know, you could become the victim of a targeted scam. Always look carefully at all calls before answering. Let unknown numbers go straight to voicemail. Don’t Answer Any Questions Over The Phone: Answering questions over the phone often leads to information leaking to scammers. Even the smallest details can help a scam artist get your personal information. Never Give Out Information: No matter what, never give out your information when buying anything over the phone unless you initiated the call. If a company calls you about an item you’ve bought, you can ask questions to verify they are truly from that company. Don’t Pay: If you’re ever ordering anything over the phone, the company normally won’t call you to ask for payment. You, as the customer, always call them to pay for your purchases. Never give out your payment information or Social Security number to an unknown number. Scammers often ask for wire money transfers. If you ever hear the words “wire transfer,” you can be sure it’s a scam. Contact Your Rochester Security Company and Protect Yourself More! Take action now to be safer when answering the phone. You never know what scam artist is going to be calling next. If you have any questions on how to stay safe contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.