Strategies to Catch Swindlers Red-Handed

In today's digital age, it's more important than ever to be vigilant about protecting our personal information online. Cherry Dale, Vice President of Financial Education at Virginia Credit Union, offers some valuable advice on how to stay safe in the face of increasingly sophisticated digital scams.

First and foremost, Dale recommends refraining from posting personal information like age, birthdate, workplace, or home address online. Scammers are constantly improving their text and email strategies to appear more convincing, and they can use such information to target individuals more effectively.

Posting about going on vacation can also inadvertently indicate your absence from home, making it easier for scammers to target your property or loved ones. Dale urges caution about posting personal information on social media, and suggests being mindful of what you share.

Another important tip from Dale is to switch to email statements to eliminate paper trails. This reduces the risk of your personal information being disposed of carelessly and falling into the wrong hands.

When it comes to emails and texts, Dale advises against engaging with suspicious messages, especially if they seem like scams from the outset. The email address used in scam messages may not appear to be from a legitimate company, so it's best to err on the side of caution.

Scammers are now using AI to write their messages, making the presence of typos less reliable as a sign of a scam. If an email or text from a financial institution seems fishy or urgent, Dale suggests contacting the institution directly without responding to the message.

Dale also emphasizes the importance of trusting one's gut feeling and being skeptical. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers can also target an individual's loved ones using personal information, so it's important to be vigilant and protect not only yourself, but your loved ones as well.

Finally, Dale suggests shredding financial documents and statements before disposing of them. This helps to prevent identity theft and ensures that your personal information remains secure.

By following these simple tips, you can help to protect yourself from digital scams and maintain your peace of mind in the online world. Stay safe and stay vigilant!