In honor of my Caught Dead in Wyoming mystery series, my assistant Gabriella Samuels is writing for my newsletter and blog a series of consumer tips inspired by TV reporter Elizabeth Margaret Danniher.
This tip is a big warning, as I almost had this happen to me recently. There has been an increase in financial institutions being targeted by scammers. Scammers are generating fake accounts or using AI to impersonate your bank to gain access to your account. They also set up fake financial institutions with fake websites and phone numbers, offering credit cards and advance-fee loans to steal your money. It can be very scary to not know if you are being contacted by a real bank or a scammer.
Here are some ways you can tell it is a scammer:
- They pressure you to act immediately without verifying anything.
- They may ask you to pay fees via cryptocurrency or gift cards.
- They may send fake alerts to your phone, pretending that your account has been compromised.
- They may send fake “password change request” emails when you never made a “password change request.”
To stay safe, always double-check that you are speaking to your actual bank. Always contact your bank directly if you are not sure. It only takes a few minutes.
Turn on two-factor or multi-factor authentication and make sure you create a strong unique password for your account.
If you have been scammed, or you think your account is compromised, contact your bank immediately. And file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Stay safe.