Tips to Stop Scammers

Keep Your Information Secret

Losing money isn’t your only concern: your financial information can be used to commit identity fraud, and crooks find innovative ways to capture it. Worse yet, if you willingly share sensitive data like your personal identification number (PIN), you could be voiding any protection offered by your bank or credit card company. Your best protection is to know when to share and when to keep your information to yourself.

For instance:

- Employers only need your social insurance number after you’ve been hired — but employment scams ask for it upfront.

- No one needs to know your PIN, not even your bank. You shouldn’t share it with friends or family, and you should always shield the keypad when you enter it.

- Unless you’re making a purchase with a company you know and trust, don’t give out your credit card information — especially the three-digit security code on the back of your card. Avoid using unsecure methods like email or fax too. When it’s time to get rid of unneeded documents like receipts, statements or credit card applications, make sure to destroy them before they hit the recycling bin (A cross-cut paper shredder will do the trick.)

Safe Surfing

Scammers love new technology too, and malware can be used to track and capture your financial information. Experts recommend installing a firewall to protect your wireless network and using a virus scanner on a regular basis as protection. Beware of invitations to click on links or download free software or files — they could expose you to malware. Also, be careful when you’re out and about as free wireless internet access and shared computers may not be as secure as you think.

With very little equipment and effort, a crook can set up their own wi-fi network and capture people’s information when they mistakenly use it. Even data stored in the internet browser of a shared computer can be useful for crooks. When in doubt, wait until you’re home to make sensitive transactions like online purchases or checking your bank statement.

Report It

Sometimes despite their best efforts, people can fall prey to a sneaky scam. Unfortunately, victims are often too embarrassed or ashamed to admit they’ve been caught. While reporting the crime may not guarantee the perpetrator will be caught or that you’ll get your money back, it can go a long way to helping an investigation and warning others. How can you report a fraud related crime? In the U.S., contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In Canada, contact the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre through its website or call 1-888-495-8501.

If your personal or financial information has been compromised, you’ll also want to contact your financial institutions, the credit reporting bureaus (Trans Union, Equifax and Experian for U.S. residents) and any government institutions responsible for issuing I.D. — like your passport and driver’s license. (See Identity theft: what to do if you’re affected for more details.)

Sometimes it seems like the scammers are always a step ahead, but these simple steps can help you combat the problem of fraud.