10 Quick Tips to Protect Yourself from Fraud & Scams

1. Do not open emails from people you do not know.
   These emails can contain harmful links, scammers phone numbers, or viruses. 
    
2. Pay close attention website addresses.
   A fake website address can be very similar to the actual thing.  It can be a minor change such as www.dime-bank.com altered to www.dime_bank.com, or it can be made to show the correct address while bringing you to another site altogether. A good practice to adopt is to hover the mouse over a hyperlink which will show the actual destination of what website it will bring you to.    
    
3. Do not share personal details over the phone, email, or social media.
   Your bank will never ask for your account or personal information over the phone if calling you.  If you are unsure or feel uneasy with a call, do not be afraid to hang up and call back with a trusted and known number.
    
4. Use strong passwords and do not use the same password for every login.
   This is one many of us are guilty of!  It is important to use different passwords to make it harder for a scammer to access your information if a compromise does occur.  Consider using a random password generator to choose complex passwords for you.  If you have your passwords saved on your computer, lock that document with a completely unique password.
    
5. Make sure your device’s antivirus protection is up to date.
   Scammers can exploit older versions.  While it is important to have antivirus software on your devices, remember that you are the ultimate line of defense against scammers.
    
6. Take a moment to stop and think. Scammers will often pressure you into making immediate decisions.
   Fraudsters will create a false sense of urgency which can lead to you making a costly decision.  They will make it seem like you need to take immediate action by threatening legal consequences or the possibility of financial loss. 
    
7. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
   There is no such thing as free money.  Fraudsters will tempt you with a lucrative work from home job opportunity or an inheritance from a long lost relative.
    
8. Always know where your checkbook and debit or credit card are.  Monitor your account activity regularly.
   There are timeframes to report a missing card or fraud that occurs on your account.
    
9. Keep your personal information safe.
   Do not keep your PIN with your debit card or your Social Security Card and Birth Certificate in the same place.  If your wallet or purse is stolen or lost, it makes it that much easier for a fraudster to access your funds.  Keep your personal documents such as Social Security Card and birth certificate in a locked box or safe spot.
    
10. Try to avoid using the blue postal boxes and opt to hand deliver your mail inside the post office when possible.
    Mail fraud is up nearly 100% since pre-covid.  Fraudsters will “fish” for mail in postal boxes with a sticky substance attached to a hook and string and even have their own sets of keys to the boxes now.