Better than Cure
- Ensure websites are secure prior to submitting your credit card number.
- Do your homework to ensure the business or website is legitimate.
- Attempt to obtain a physical address, rather than a P.O. box or mail drop.
- Never throw away credit card or bank statements in usable form.
- Be aware of missed bills which could indicate your account has been taken over.
- Be cautious of scams requiring you to provide your personal information.
- Never give your credit card number over the phone unless you make the call.
- Monitor your credit statements monthly for any fraudulent activity.
- Report unauthorized transactions to your bank or Credit Card Company as soon as possible.
- Review a copy of your credit report at least once a year.
- Security needs to be multi-layered so that numerous obstacles will be in the way of the intruder.
- Ensure security is installed at every possible entry point.
- Identify all machines connected to the Internet and assess the defense that’s engaged.
- Identify whether your servers are utilizing any ports that have been known to represent insecurities.
- Ensure you are utilizing the most up-to-date patches for your software.
- Security needs to be multi-layered so that numerous obstacles will be in the way of the intruder.
- Ensure security is installed at every possible entry point.
- Identify all machines connected to the Internet and assess the defense that’s engaged.
- Identify whether your servers are utilizing any ports that have been known to represent insecurities.
- Ensure you are utilizing the most up-to-date patches for your software.
- If the “opportunity” appears too good to be true, it probably is.
- Do not reply to emails asking for personal banking information.
- Be wary of individuals representing themselves as foreign government officials.
- Be cautious when dealing with individuals outside of your own country.
- Beware when asked to assist in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
- Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
- Guard your account information carefully.
- Be cautious when additional fees are requested to further the transaction.
- Be suspicious of any unsolicited email requesting personal information.
- Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal information.
- Always compare the link in the email to the link that you are actually directed to.
- Log on to the official website, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited email.
- Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the email to verify if the email is genuine.
- If the “opportunity” appears too good to be true, it probably is.
- Beware of promises to make fast profits.
- Exercise diligence in selecting investments.
- Be vigilant in researching with whom you choose to invest.
- Make sure you fully understand the investment prior to investing.
- Be wary when you are required to bring in subsequent investors.
- Independently verify the legitimacy of any investment.
- Beware of references given by the promoter.
Here is a free online resource for information about specific types of scams or fraud and instructions on how to report suspicious activity:
Consumer Fraud Reporting (CFR)
International Investigations
