Scam Calls Don't Have to be Scary!
‘Tis the season for all things scary and creepy. There are a lot of things to be scared of but getting a scam call should not be one of those things.
In this article, we will go over the steps to help you or those you know that might be more susceptible to these scammers. As long as you take steps to ensure you are safe from identity theft and financial loss, scam calls should be on the back burner of your mind.
A quick note: If you have fallen for a scammer’s tricks in the past be sure to give yourself grace and don’t beat yourself up about it. Over the years, scammer’s techniques have become very sophisticated. This article is to help inform you to take the steps that will ensure your safety as well as the safety of those you care about.
10 Ways to Avoid Falling for Scams
1. Know whom you are dealing with
Do your research! Look up the company website and cross-reference it with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). If you cannot find any information, then the odds are likely very high that it is not a legitimate company. Most of the time, scammers will present themselves as employees of a large corporation like Amazon or Microsoft. Call the number provided on their official websites to inquire if this is a legit offer or not because likely you will find that those companies do not make specific phone calls. As Dave Ramsey always says, don't invest in anything (or buy anything) that you don't fully understand.
2. Guard your personal information
Scammers pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send you an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Working with various financial institutions, you can be assured that they will never call you for personal information. If asked, hang up and call the place you conduct business with to report this. Chances are you are not the only customer who received these scam calls.
3. Stay safe online
Do not send sensitive information. Look for clues about security on websites. At the point where you are asked to provide your financial or other sensitive information, the letters at the beginning of the address bar at the top of the screen should change from “http” to “https” or “shttp.” Your browser may also show that the information is being encrypted, or scrambled so that someone who might try to intercept it can’t read it. But while your information may be safe in transmission, that’s no guarantee that the company will store it securely. It can be important to see what websites say about how your information is safeguarded in storage.
4. Be cautious about unsolicited emails
They are more than likely fraudulent. If you are familiar with the company or charity that sent you the email and you don’t want to receive further messages, opt out of the emails by unsubscribing (there is usually a link at the bottom of the email to do this). Sometimes the best approach may simply be to delete the email, especially if you don’t know who it is from.
One email you might want in your inbox to help keep you educated on important financial matters is our Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers, "Better than I Deserve" weekly newsletter. We write the content ourselves and you can join our mailing list HERE.
5. Resist pressure
Legitimate companies and charities will be happy to give you time to make a decision. It’s probably a scam if they demand that you act immediately or won’t take “No” for an answer. Some scammers may also demand you pay off a loan immediately or damaging consequences may occur, always take time to look into who is requesting the money before you pay up.
6. Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
7. Fully understand the offer
A legitimate seller will give you all the details about the products or services, the total price, the delivery time, the refund and cancellation policies, and the terms of any warranty. Contact the seller if any of these details are missing, if they are unable to provide the details, it may be a sign that it’s a scam.
8. Get off credit marketing lists
Credit bureaus compile marketing lists for pre-approved offers of credit. These mailings are a goldmine for identity thieves, who may steal them and apply for credit in your name. Get off these mailing lists by calling 888-567-8688 (your social security number will be required to verify your identity).
9. Check your credit reports regularly
If you find accounts that don’t belong to you or other incorrect information, follow the instructions for disputing those items. You can ask for free copies of your credit reports in certain situations. If you were denied credit because of information in a credit report, you can ask the credit bureau that the report came from for a free copy of your file. And if you are the victim of identity theft, you can ask all three of the major credit bureaus for free copies of your reports. Contact the credit bureaus at: Equifax, 800-685-111; Experian, 800-311-4769; TransUnion, 800-888-4213.
“Everyone can request free copies of their credit reports once a year. In addition to the rights described above, a new federal law entitles all consumers to ask each of the three major credit bureaus for free copies of their reports once every 12-month period. Go to www.ftc.gov/credit or call 877-382-4357 for more details and to see when you can make your requests. You don’t have to ask all three credit bureaus for your reports at the same time; you can stagger your requests if you prefer. Do not contact the credit bureaus directly for these free annual reports. They are only available by calling 877-322-8228 or going to www.annualcreditreport.com. You can make your requests by phone or online, or download a form to mail your requests.”
10. Check with a trusted professional
If you are not sure if something is a good idea, checking with your Financial Advisor for a second opinion is never a bad idea. At Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers our Advisors have the heart of a teacher and would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
HALLOWEEN IS SCARY, SCAM CALLS DO NOT HAVE TO BE
October 21, 2022
Whitaker Myers
Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers is an SEC-registered investment adviser firm. The information presented is for educational purposes only and intended for a broad audience. The information does not intend to make an offer or solicitation to sell or purchase any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers reasonably believes that this marketing does not include any false or misleading statements or omissions of facts regarding services, investment, or client experience. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers has a reasonable belief that the content will not cause an untrue or misleading implication regarding the adviser’s services, investments, or client experiences. Please refer to the firm’s ADV Part 2A for material risks disclosures.
Past performance of specific investment advice should not be relied upon without knowledge of certain circumstances of market events, the nature and timing of the investments, and relevant constraints of the investment. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers has presented information in a fair and balanced manner.
Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers is not giving tax, legal or accounting advice, consult a professional tax or legal representative if needed.
Copyright (c) 2023 Clearnomics, Inc. and Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers, LTD. All rights reserved. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not necessarily complete and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of the information and opinions contained herein. The views and the other information provided are subject to change without notice. All reports posted on or via www.clearnomics.com or any affiliated websites, applications, or services are issued without regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific recipient and are not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or related financial instruments. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future results. Company fundamentals and earnings may be mentioned occasionally, but should not be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold the company's stock. Predictions, forecasts, and estimates for any and all markets should not be construed as recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any security--including mutual funds, futures contracts, and exchange traded funds, or any similar instruments. The text, images, and other materials contained or displayed in this report are proprietary to Clearnomics, Inc. and constitute valuable intellectual property. All unauthorized reproduction or other use of material from Clearnomics, Inc. shall be deemed willful infringement(s) of this copyright and other proprietary and intellectual property rights, including but not limited to, rights of privacy. Clearnomics, Inc. expressly reserves all rights in connection with its intellectual property, including without limitation the right to block the transfer of its products and services and/or to track usage thereof, through electronic tracking technology, and all other lawful means, now known or hereafter devised. Clearnomics, Inc. reserves the right, without further notice, to pursue to the fullest extent allowed by the law any and all criminal and civil remedies for the violation of its rights.
