Have a scam-free new year in 2021

Many are eager to leave 2020 behind, and the start of a new year brings opportunity for a fresh start, especially when it comes to protecting your personal and financial information. Toward the end of last year, I started to see a noticeable increase in the numbers of calls, texts, and emails that I received on both my personal and my work phone that raised the red flags. I hope we know all too well by now, but as a refresher, I’d like to review the best tips for keeping 2021 scam free.

• Check your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877322-8228. Review it closely for errors and report any inconsistencies you see. Checking your credit report helps you catch signs of identity theft early.

• If you get a call from the Social Security Administration that your Social Security number has been suspended because it has been used in a crime, hang up. Your Social Security number cannot be suspended, revoked, frozen or blocked. Don’t wire money or send gift cards to someone you don’t know. Don’t call back a number you don’t recognize even if your caller ID says the Social Security Administration or SSA. Call SSA’s main number at 800-772-1213 to verify the scam.

• Set up your first line of defense against robocalls on all your phone lines. Scam calls are getting more frequent — and quickly. In 2020, nearly 60% of all calls to mobile phones will be fraudulent. You can purchase call blocking devices for your land line, (e.g. Sentry 3.1, CPR Call Blocker, or Digitone Pro-Series Call Blocker) or find out if you home phone provider offers free robocall-blocking services, like Nomorobo. Similarly, you can check with your wireless carrier about call-blocking and spam protection services offered directly from the manufacturer or third-party apps. Many are free.

• Dispose of older bank and credit card statements, expired credit cards, and unwanted credit solicitations securely by shredding them with a cross-cut paper shredder.

• When using public Wi-Fi connections, such as in airports, do not make any purchases, or do any online banking, or share any sensitive personal information. Be aware that juicing up your electronic device at free USB port charging stations, such as those found near airport gates, in hotels and other travel-friendly locations, could make you a victim of “juice jacking”; a cyber theft tactic. Criminals are loading malware onto public USB charging stations to maliciously access electronic devices while they are being charged. Public means public, and fraudsters are known to frequent Wi-Fi hotspots and sometimes even set up hotspots of their own.

• If you receive an offer or solicitation, research the company or charity for free with Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org/houston or call 713-341-6141.

• Never respond to phone calls or emails asking to “verify”; your personal information. Your bank, your credit card provider, Medicare, the IRS — none of these organizations will call or email asking for your confidential information. They already have it on file.

• Secure or lock sensitive personal documents around your home, especially if you have home care providers, employ outside help, or are having work performed in your home.

• Scammers know it’s extremely difficult to track money sent via MoneyGram or Western Union, so never wire money to someone you don’t know. More troubling for victims is the fact that it’s nearly impossible to get your money back once it’s been sent via wire. Even if you’ve been given a check to cover the amount you’re wiring, never send money to someone you don’t know personally. The check could be fraudulent, leaving you liable for the money.

• Change your email and social media passwords and beef up your security by creating hard to crack passwords and employing two-factor authentication whenever possible. Choose passwords that are easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess. Incorporate a combination of numbers, capital letters and symbols. Never do business with a “tech support” company who contacts you over the phone or internet.

If you want to report a scam or have a question, call the BBB Education Foundation at 713-341-6141.