March is Fraud Month – Can You Spot Fraud?

Like most folks, you make every effort to protect yourself from fraud. You’ve heard the stories and know about the most common scams out there. But fraudsters seem to come up with new schemes faster than most of us can keep up with the old. How can you protect yourself from the latest scams? Here are some common red flags to look for that will help protect you from fraudsters.

• An offer that seems “too good to be true”. If it seems unrealistic, it probably is. Fraudsters will guarantee a high rate of return in a short amount of time with little or no risk. Beware of get-rich-quick schemes.
• Pressure to make a decision quickly. A fraudster will pressure you to commit on the spot with no opportunity to think it over or to talk to trusted family or friends. Watch out for grandparent scams.
• Asking for account numbers, PIN numbers, Social Insurance Numbers or any other personal information. Never give out this sort of information over the phone or online. Protect yourself with strong passwords and PINs.
• Asking to have remote access to your computer. No one should ever be given access to your computer, unless you have taken it in for repairs.
• Asking you to pay for something in gift cards. Gift cards are for gifts, and not payments. No legitimate company or agency will ever ask you to make a payment with gift cards. See more about gift card scams.

As fast as fraudsters can dream up new schemes, paying attention to these red flags will help protect you from fraud. If you are ever in doubt, please reach out to your Kindred branch for advice and support.