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    • October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Here's how to stay safe from scams

    A woman uses her computer keyboard to type while surfing the internet. (Source: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward) A woman uses her computer keyboard to type while surfing the internet. (Source: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
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    NEW YORK CITY -

    October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which means it's the perfect time to learn how to protect yourself from scams.

    鈥淪cams have become so sophisticated now. Phishing emails, texts, spoofing caller ID, all of this technology gives scammers that edge,鈥 said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center

    As scammers find new ways to steal money and personal information, consumers should be more vigilant about who they trust, especially online. A quick way to remember what to do when you think you're getting scammed is to think about the three S's, said Alissa Abdullah, also known as Dr. Jay, Mastercard鈥檚 deputy chief security officer

    鈥淪tay suspicious, stop for a second (and think about it) and stay protected,鈥 she said.

    Whether it's romance scams or job scams, impersonators are looking for ways to trick you into giving them money or sharing your personal information. Here's what to know:

    Know scammers' tactics

    Three common tactics used by scammers are based on fear, urgency and money, said security expert Petros Efstathopoulos. Here鈥檚 how they work:

    鈥 Fear

    When a scammer contacts you via phone or email, they use language that makes it seem like there is a problem that you need to solve. For example, a scammer contacts you over email telling you that your tax return has an error and if you don鈥檛 fix it you鈥檒l get in trouble.

    鈥 Urgency

    Because scammers are good at creating a sense of urgency, people tend to rush, which makes them vulnerable. Scammers often tell people they need to act right away, which can lead to them sharing private information such as their Social Security numbers.

    鈥 Money

    Scammers use money as bait, Efstathopoulos said. They might impersonate tax professionals or the IRS saying you will get a bigger tax refund than you expect if you pay them for their services or share your personal information.

    Know the most common scams

    Simply being aware of typical scams can help, experts say. Robocalls in particular frequently target vulnerable individuals like seniors, people with disabilities, and people with debt.

    鈥淚f you get a robocall out of the blue paying a recorded message trying to get you to buy something, just hang up,鈥 said James Lee, chief operating officer at the Identity Theft Resource Center. 鈥淪ame goes for texts 鈥 anytime you get them from a number you don鈥檛 know asking you to pay, wire, or click on something suspicious.鈥

    Lee urges consumers to hang up and call the company or institution in question at an official number.

    Scammers will also often imitate someone in authority, such as a tax or debt collector. They might pretend to be a loved one calling to request immediate financial assistance for bail, legal help, or a hospital bill.

    Romance scams

    So-called 鈥渞omance scams鈥 often target lonely and isolated individuals, according to Will Maxson, assistant director of the Division of Marketing Practices at the FTC. These scams can take place over longer periods of time -- even years.

    Kate Kleinart, 70, who lost tens of thousands to a romance scam over several months, said to be vigilant if a new Facebook friend is exceptionally good-looking, asks you to download WhatsApp to communicate, attempts to isolate you from friends and family, and/or gets romantic very quickly.

    鈥淚f you鈥檙e seeing that picture of a very handsome person, ask someone younger in your life 鈥 a child, a grandchild, a niece or a nephew 鈥 to help you reverse-image search or identify the photo,鈥 she said.

    She said the man in pictures she received was a plastic surgeon from Spain whose photos have been stolen and used by scammers.

    Kleinart had also been living under lockdown during the early pandemic when she got the initial friend request, and the companionship and communication meant a lot to her while she was cut off from family. When the scam fell apart, she missed the relationship even more than the savings.

    鈥淟osing the love was worse than losing the money,鈥 she said.

    Job scams

    Job scams involve a person pretending to be a recruiter or a company in order to steal money or information from a job seeker.

    Scammers tend to use the name of an employee from a large company and craft a job posting that matches similar positions. An initial red flag is that scammers usually try to make the job very appealing, Velasquez said.

    鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to have very high salaries for somewhat low-skilled work," she said. "And they鈥檙e often saying it鈥檚 a 100 per cent remote position because that鈥檚 so appealing to people."

    Some scammers post fake jobs, but others reach out directly to job seekers through direct messages or texts. If the scammers are looking to steal your personal information, they may ask you to fill out several forms that include information like your Social Security number and driver鈥檚 license details.

    The only information a legitimate employer should ask for at the beginning of the process is your skills, your work experience, and your contact information, Velasquez said.

    Other details don鈥檛 generally need to be shared with an employer until after you鈥檝e gotten an offer.

    Investment scams

    According to Lois Greisman, an associate director of marketing practices at the Federal Trade Commission, an investment scam constitutes any get-rich-quick scheme that lures targets via social media accounts or online ads.

    Investment scammers typically add different forms of 鈥渢estimony,鈥 such as from other social media accounts, to support that the 鈥渋nvestment鈥 works. Many of these also involve cryptocurrency. To avoid falling for these frauds, the FTC recommends independently researching the company 鈥 especially by searching the company鈥檚 name along with terms like 鈥渞eview鈥 or 鈥渟cam.鈥

    Quiz scams

    When you鈥檙e using Facebook or scrolling Google results, be aware of quiz scams, which typically appear innocuous and ask about topics you might be interested in, such as your car or favorite TV show. They may also ask you to take a personality test.

    Despite these benign-seeming questions, scammers can then use the personal information you share to respond to security questions from your accounts or hack your social media to send malware links to your contacts.

    To protect your personal information, the FTC simply recommends steering clear of online quizzes. The commission also advises consumers to use random answers for security questions.

    鈥淎sked to enter your mother鈥檚 maiden name? Say it鈥檚 something else: Parmesan or another word you鈥檒l remember,鈥 advises Terri Miller, consumer education specialist at the FTC. 鈥淭his way, scammers won鈥檛 be able to use information they find to steal your identity.鈥

    Marketplace scams

    When buying or selling products on Instagram or Facebook Marketplace, keep in mind that not everyone that reaches out to you has the best intentions.

    To avoid being scammed when selling via an online platform, the FTC recommends checking buyers鈥 profiles, not sharing any codes sent to your phone or email, and avoiding accepting online payments from unknown persons.

    Likewise, when buying something from an online marketplace, make sure to diligently research the seller. Take a look at whether the profile is verified, what kind of reviews they have, and the terms and conditions of the purchase.

    Don鈥檛 pick up if you don鈥檛 know who is calling

    Scammers often reach out by phone, Ben Hoffman, Head of Strategy and Consumer Products at Fifth Third Bank recommends that you don't pick up unknown incoming calls.

    鈥淏anks don't ask your for your password,鈥 said Hoffman. If you believe your bank is trying to reach out, give them a call at a number listed on their website.

    This makes it easier to know for sure that you鈥檙e not talking to a scammer. As a general rule, banks don鈥檛 often call unless there is suspicious activity on your account or if you previously contacted them about a problem.

    If you receive many unknown calls that end up being scammers or robocalls, you can use tools available on your phone to block spam. Check here for how to do this on your iPhone and here for Android.

    Use all of the technology at your disposal

    There are many tools are your disposal that can be used to protect yourself from scammers online.

    鈥 Use a password manager to ensure you鈥檙e utilizing a complex password that scammers can鈥檛 guess.

    鈥 Regularly checking your credit report and bank statements is a good practice since it can help you identify if someone has been using your bank account without your knowledge.

    鈥 Turn on multi-factor verification to make sure impersonators aren't able to access your social media or bank accounts.

    When in doubt, call for help

    As scams get more sophisticated, it's difficult to know who to trust or if a person is actually real, or an impersonator. If you aren't sure if a job recruiter is real or if your bank is actually asking your for information, find organizations that can help you, recommended Velasquez.

    Organizations like the Identity Theft Protection Center and the AARP Fraud Watch Network offer free services for customers who need help identifying scams or knowing what to do if you've been a victim of a scam.

    Share what you know with loved ones

    If you鈥檝e taken all the necessary steps to protect yourself, you might want to help those around you. Whether you鈥檙e helping your grandparents to block unknown callers on their phones or sharing tips with your neighbors, talking with others about how to protect themselves from scams can be very effective.

    Report the scam

    If you or a family member is a victim of a scam, it鈥檚 good practice to report it on the FTC鈥檚 website.

    The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

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