* Avoid sharing personally identifiable information. Providing your full date of birth, Social Security number, photos of IDs, or home address can enable identity theft.
* Keep devices and software updated. Also use antivirus software plus a password manager for strong, unique passwords.
* Be cautious with "too helpful" strangers. If someone offers to set up an investment account or "help" you sign up, slow down and verify.
* Inform your contacts. Warn friends and family if you see a suspicious contact pretending to be you.
Actions to take if you're the victim of a scam. If you or a loved one falls victim to a fraudster, take immediate action:
* Stop communication with the scammer. Preserve all messages and transaction records.
* Contact your bank/payment provider immediately. Ask them to help you stop or trace transfers.
* Change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), especially if you shared login information.
* Place fraud alerts and a credit freeze with the three main credit bureaus. Also place alerts with your bank and credit cards if you shared sensitive financial data.
* Requests to communicate off-platform. Does the message sender insist on speaking via WhatsApp, Telegram, or a separate, private email address? If so, platform security protections won't apply.
* Audio/video inconsistencies. Lip-sync timing seems off, weird lighting/jerky motion, or a voice that doesn't quite match the person you know.
* Too-good-to-be-true offers. Does the sender promise guaranteed high financial returns or "exclusive" private opportunities? They likely won't pay out.
How to protect yourself
Even if you think the person or company contacting you is legitimate at first, always double check by going straight to the source. Go directly to the company website, or contact the person the way you normally contact them, rather than clicking a provided link or responding to the text, email, or call.
Follow these tips to avoid falling prey to scams:
* Never send money to someone you know online only, especially via cryptocurrency, wire transfer, gift cards, or prepaid reload methods.
* Beware of financial requests. Requests to "loan me money to buy a ticket" or "invest via this private wallet" are warnings to STOP and verify.
* Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Protect your email, social, and financial accounts.
* Use payment methods with buyer protection. Credit cards and escrow services are safest when transacting with unknown parties.
"If someone offers to set up an investment account or "help" you sign up, slow down and verify."
BUSINESS MATTERS