Top Ten Tips To Avoid Fraud

1. Take your free credit report at annualcreditreport.com. Every year you can find 1 free credit report from every one of the 3 credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Equifax or Experian). Upon receipt, check unauthorized accounts, inquiries and unknown addresses.

2. Register to access your Social Security Benefits Statement on  www.ssa.gov. When you meet, review your estimated benefits and earnings records. You should also ensure that no one is using your Social Security number for jobs or other benefits.

3. Know who you are paying through person to person payments, i.e. Zelle, Venmo, etc. Give and take money only to people you know. Do not pay strangers with P2 P (Person to Person). Most “person to person” transactions occur immediately and cannot be returned.

4. Do not pay for goods using debit card online or over phone. Debit cards are unsecured because they are linked to a bank account. Paying with a credit card is much more likely to resolve fraudulent transactions than a debit card. Also, do not provide your debit/credit card numbers over the phone, email or website unless you have initiated the call or order yourself.

5. Keep complete records. If your laptop is stolen, can you give its complete details to the police? Write down your computer’s make, model, color, and most importantly, unique serial number, which serves as a key identifier, just like the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). You may also need this information to file an insurance claim.

6. If you see a wire or skimming device installed in the ATM machine instead of inserting the card, do not use it. Also, cover the keypad with your hand, hat or any other piece of clothing when inserting the pin number. Notify the bank or local police if you see a device installed on the ATM.

7. Do not make debit card purchases without checking account balance. Most financial institutions will allow transactions to be processed even if you do not have enough money to cover the charges. This will lead to penalties and unnecessary fees.

8. Don’t assume that an email or phone call is real. Just because someone knows your basic information (like your name, date of birth, and address) doesn’t mean the email or phone call is correct. Criminals will use various types of social engineering techniques to get your personal information.

9. When leaving a bar or restaurant late at night, don’t take a lift from someone who claims to work at a well-known private car service or transportation network company unless you have called for service yourself. In the past, fraudsters have taken students to deserted areas and looted them. In other cases, drunk customers were forced to withdraw money from their accounts by taking them to ATM machines.

10. If an unknown person asks you to deposit the check in your account, do not do so. That person can say that he has no account and can tell a sad story. You are financially responsible for everything deposited into your account. Do not give your account login credentials to anyone. If you do this, they may deposit stolen or fake checks into your account. The bank will hold you financially responsible.

Trust your gut feeling — if something looks wrong, it’s probably wrong.

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