How to Protect Personal Information Online from Hidden Scams

Social media is a blessing and a curse. We love scrolling our newsfeed to see our friend’s newest engagement photos, pics of our sweet nieces and nephews, and let’s not forget the funny videos we stumble upon. Then there are posts that catch our attention in a different way… we’ve all seen it. You’re scrolling through social media and see a friend post “Just for fun, answer this Q&A” or “Ask your spouse these 10 questions and post their answers.” Sometimes it's “Copy and paste this private message and send it to 5 friends.”      

Believe it or not, it’s these posts that lead users down the path of giving away personal information in sneaky social media scams.

Think about the passwords you have. Now, think about the Q&A social media posts you see with questions like “What is your pet’s name?” or “When is your anniversary?”

These questions often line up with passwords, password hints, or the verification questions many websites offer to help stay secure. Scammers will snatch this information right up. 

Best Practices for Avoiding Common Social Media Scams

Social media scams cover just some of the hidden scams out there. Scammers will find any way they can to take your information.

Here are a few additional scams to be aware of that may seem less obvious:

• Text fraud scams, including messages from a stranger that seem to just have the wrong number. It may feel like you’re being friendly saying “Sorry, you have the wrong number” but this simple gesture could unfortunately lead to trouble.       
• Be careful when joining any public WI-FI network. If you’re wanting to connect to the local coffee shop’s WI-FI, just make sure to ask the barista what the network is. Scammers can set up networks that look public, but once you’re connected, it is easy for them to steal your information.  

How to Protect Personal Information Online

We don’t mean to scare you! We simply share this information to help you be aware of all the sneaky ways scammers will use to gain personal information. Now that you know what to be on the lookout for, here are a few additional tips to protect your personal information online and keep your information private:

• Utilize strong passwords. No two passwords should be the same. A combination of letters, numbers, and punctuation are best. To help remember, you could make up an acronym. NEVER use your online banking password for any other site.
• Only give personal information to companies that actually need it. If you’re wondering to yourself “why would they need my date of birth” it’s ok to throw up a red flag. This simple precaution can go a long way in protecting your personal information.
• If there is an option to not include certain information, leave it blank.
• Get a second opinion. It’s easier to ask for help to prevent fraud than deal with the consequences of becoming a victim. Have someone you know and trust be your backup if something seems suspicious.
• An effective way to protect your personal information online is to use Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) whenever possible. You can receive an email or text message with a code to verify your account or use an authenticator app. If you ever have a code sent to you when you are not trying to log in, change your password! This means that someone else is trying to log into your account.

As always National Exchange Bank & Trust is here to help you protect your personal information. Check out our Fraud Resource Center for ongoing scams and other resources.      

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