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<p style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><span style="font-size: 28px;">With data breaches and identity theft in the news practically every week, you may be wondering what you can do to secure your finances.</span></p>
<p>Here are 10 of the best measures you can take, according to experts. If you're not already doing these, it's easy to make them a part of your routine to safeguard your accounts.</p>
<h2>1. Keep crucial numbers secure</h2>
<p>One basic way to protect your finances is simply paying attention and making your privacy a priority. Don&rsquo;t print Social Security and driver&rsquo;s license numbers on the checks you write, or jot down your PINs and passwords on cards, for example, and never give your credit or debit card and PIN to someone else to use. When you&rsquo;re at an ATM, in addition to shielding the view of your PIN, look for signs a card reader has been tampered with, such as loose components or wires; that may mean the device has been fitted with a skimmer, which can record your personal information.</p>
<p>Another key precaution: If you&rsquo;re donating or discarding an old computer, wipe the hard drive to remove all your personal and financial files, says Gerri Walsh, president of the Investor Education Foundation at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).</p>
<h2>2. Create strong passwords or pass phrases</h2>
<p>This is one of the most important steps to secure your accounts. What&rsquo;s considered strong? Passwords that include lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers&nbsp;and symbols, if allowed, or try pass phrases such as&nbsp;My@untLov3sCa$h, suggests Walsh. Use different passwords for each account and change them, as well as the PIN of your ATM card, regularly.</p>
<p>If you&rsquo;re having trouble remembering all your passwords, says Walsh, it may be worth the nominal fee to use a password manager that randomly generates secure passwords for your accounts while allowing you to use a simple master password. With strong encryption, it also protects PINs, CVV codes, credit card numbers&nbsp;and answers to security questions.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If you&rsquo;re donating or discarding an old computer, wipe the hard drive to remove all your personal and financial files.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>3. Be mindful with mail habits</h2>
<p>If you're not doing transactions digitally, it's generally safer to send bills, money or checks from the post office or an official postal mailbox rather than your personal mailbox. And it's a good idea to collect your mail daily because pre-approved credit cards, bank statements, bills and envelopes that may contain blank checks can be valuable to thieves.</p>
<p>If you do notice a bank or billing statement is missing, report it immediately, and consider switching to paperless statements.</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-937170888_web.jpg" alt="Man entering his credit card number into his laptop" /></p>
<h2>4. Monitor your credit</h2>
<p>The prevailing advice is to check your credit at least once a year to spot any mistakes or potential fraud, but you might consider requesting and reviewing your credit report every four months for extra peace of mind.</p>
<p>You may be able to accomplish this at no cost by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com, and alternating between the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Using one dedicated email address just for financial communications from banks, credit card companies and investment companies can help you streamline this too.</p>
<h2>5. Beware of fake websites</h2>
<p>Some online fraudsters <a href="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/finance-101/2023_imposter_scams_and_how_to_avoid_them" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-source="tiny">mimic authentic websites</a> with fake versions meant to fool users into inputting their credentials, so you'll want to make sure you're always using a company's official site. Avoid those with a URL that starts with http rather than https, and before you click on links within an email, be certain that you know the sender.</p>
<h2>6. Avoid phishing scams</h2>
<p>Fraudulent offers can come via email, text or website, and some of the most common scams request money or personal information for various reasons: to claim a sweepstakes prize or "update" your profile, for example. Others claim the funds or data are needed because the sender's website has been hacked. Never click on links or respond to requests like these, Walsh warns; your best bet to check whether the outreach is legitimate is to call the company or institution instead.</p>
<h2>7. Shred sensitive documents</h2>
<p>Using a cross-shredder to destroy documents containing account numbers, Social Security numbers or other personal information is always advisable, says Walsh. If you don&rsquo;t have a shredder, check whether your bank sponsors a shredding event, where you can take care of this all at once.</p>
<h2>8. Share cautiously on social media</h2>
<p>Even seemingly harmless details like your alma mater or the name of your family pet can create a vulnerability (think of the common security questions used to verify your identity online), so you may want to think twice before posting anything personal.</p>
<h2>9. Be diligent with your devices</h2>
<p>To shield your information from unwanted access, consider added measures like encrypting your email and enabling two-factor authentication, which sends a one-time passcode to a trusted device whenever you attempt to sign in to an online account. At the very least, maintaining anti-virus and anti-malware protection, and setting up your computer to install updates automatically, are safety best practices.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Using a cross-shredder to destroy documents containing account numbers, Social Security numbers or other personal information is always advisable.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>10. Stay vigilant</h2>
<p>Kids are told, "Don't talk to strangers" &mdash; and the same advice holds true when it comes to your financial information. Don't reveal <a href="https://uat.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/finance-101/Scams_for_Seniors_To_look_For" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-source="tiny">personal or financial information</a> to people you don't know, whether it's by phone, email, mail or in person, and never wire money to someone who claims to be a friend or relative until you have personally contacted that individual to confirm the request.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>&mdash; With additional reporting from Life and Money by Citi editors</em></p>

10 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information Online

Top Tips to Help You Protect Your Finances

<p>5Global fraud is on the rise, and young adults are particularly vulnerable &mdash; but knowing what to look out for can help keep them safe.</p>
<p>People in their 20s may seem more technologically savvy compared with older generations, but as it turns out, this age group also reports losing money to scams at significantly higher rates. In a recent Federal Trade Commission study, for example, individuals ages 20 to 29 accounted for 44% of fraud reports compared with just 2% from people ages 70 to 79.</p>
<p>College students are at risk for a few reasons, says Michael Steinbach, head of financial crime and fraud prevention at Citi. "Often, this is their first experience living on their own and making financial decisions without help from parents or guardians, which can make them targets of criminals," he says. On top of that, "many in this age group have been conditioned to listen to authority figures like parents, teachers and coaches, so when they're contacted by a fraudster posing as, say, a member of law enforcement or a bill collector, they may be inclined to follow instructions unquestioningly."</p>
<p>And while it may seem counterintuitive, their comfort level with technology is another factor, says Steinbach. Today's college students have grown up with smart phones and other digital devices playing a part in practically all aspects of their lives. "Buying and selling goods or services and transferring money has always been done with a few quick clicks or swipes," he says. Because digital functionality is so ingrained, college students can be less vigilant than other digital users. "They may tend to ignore basic security protocols, finding passwords 'annoying' or looking at free, public Wi-Fi as a 'score,'" says Steinbach, rather than something to be wary of.</p>
<p>All of that can make them more prone to falling for scams, and especially those targeted to students. To help the college kids in your life protect their accounts, share this advice on how to spot &mdash; and handle &mdash; seven common schemes.</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/LAM_Fraud_BodyImage_1000x667-A.jpg" alt="In his dormitory, a male student is shown texting on his mobile device"></p>
<h2>1. Apartment or room rental scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work: </strong>Preying on students in a time crunch to find a place to live, these schemes start with an offer of a room or apartment vacancy. Scammers posing as the management company or individual renting the property tell the student they must wire funds or use common peer-to-peer (P2P) payment methods to make a deposit upfront to secure the place, even before seeing it.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Research the address online and don't give in to pressure to pay a deposit upfront before touring it and getting a lease signed by you and the property manager, says Steinbach. If you can't see the place yourself, ask someone you trust to check it out for you to confirm that it's for rent and matches up with what is advertised. Another precaution to take: "Before providing personal information such as your current address or Social Security number, make sure you verify the identity of the individual requesting it," he says. "If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is."</p>
<h2>2. Sublet scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work: </strong>Scammers find college students subletting a room and pose as a prospective applicant. When they send in a check for the deposit, they make it out for a much larger amount than requested and then ask the student to refund the difference via a P2P payment method. The check later bounces.</p>
<p><strong>What to do: </strong>Decline sending back a portion of the check. Overpayment scams are prevalent, says Steinbach, so if this scenario comes up, your best bet is to return the check and request a new one for the correct amount.</p>
<h2>3. Scholarship or financial aid scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> Scammers send an official-sounding award of a scholarship or other financial aid via phone, mail or email. The notice includes instructions to provide some personal information, such as your credit card number "to confirm eligibility," or pay a deposit or application fee to proceed.</p>
<p><strong>What to do: </strong>Research any scholarship offers online to ensure they're legitimate, and complete aid applications only through FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form).</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/LAM_Fraud_BodyImage_1000x667-D.jpg" alt="A group of students entering a lecture hall and taking their seats."></p>
<h2>4. Unpaid tuition or school fee scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work: </strong>The student receives a seemingly legitimate phone call or notice of unpaid tuition or other outstanding fees that, if not remedied immediately or by a certain date, will impact their enrollment.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Before paying any invoice, verify it by calling or visiting the university's financial office and/or logging into an official, password-protected online student account, says Steinbach. (For added oversight, parents can typically request access to these accounts through the student, he notes.) Keep in mind that the school would typically send a paper bill before requiring immediate payment.</p>
<h2>5. Textbook scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work: </strong>Knowing that many students try to cut costs on expensive required college textbooks, scammers set up fake websites offering deeply discounted books or used books. However, once a student pays, they never receive the books.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Be wary of textbook deals that seem too good to be true. The safest way to purchase both new and used books is through official university bookstores.</p>
<h2>6. Credit card scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work: </strong>In some cases, the student receives a fake credit card offer (by phone, email or text) that prompts them to provide personal information such as their Social Security number. In other cases, the offer the student receives is for an actual credit card but the language is misleading, and it includes unfavorable terms, fees or interest rates.</p>
<p><strong>What to do: </strong>Be wary of generic emails that include unspecific information, and before filling out an application for an unsolicited credit card offer, contact the bank or credit card issuer directly to verify the terms. The best way to ensure you're making a good decision on a credit card, says Steinbach, is to go through your current bank or do your own online research for the card that best fits your needs.</p>
<h2>7. Online income scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> Scammers know college students need cash, so with this type of scheme, they offer ways to make a quick buck (as an assistant or dog walker, for example). The catch is that the job posters either ask for money upfront or mail checks for their work and request a portion to be paid back through a P2P method. These offers may also be a veiled way for fraudsters to collect personal and banking information.</p>
<p><strong>What to do: </strong>Before accepting a job, conduct online research on the company, including searching for the company's name plus words like "scam" or "complaint." Decline any offers that require paying money upfront.</p>
<p>Beyond these potential pitfalls, fraudsters can take things even further, offering students money to deposit bad checks or enticing them to set up bank accounts to transfer funds, as unwitting "money mules." It's important to understand that in these scenarios, the students are no longer the victims but are now complicit in committing a felony; they're also at risk of negative credit ratings and the inability to open a bank account in the future.</p>
<p>Overall, one of the most effective ways to protect your college student is to communicate this information clearly and, ideally, in advance of their freshman year, adds Steinbach. Talking with them about behaviors that make their age group susceptible and sharing potential signs of common scams can keep them on guard &mdash; and keep their finances safe.</p>
<p>For up-to-date information on the latest scams and expert tips to protect your finances, visit <a href="https://citicards.citi.com/cbol/fraudprevention/default.htm?BTData=EFe.B.gAB4f.B.B0!.SEOz.eGI.lYg.xG!.Bj.SX.0f.E&amp;ProspectID=B94C456AA40A4CBCB2CEAA7F7CB56CD5" data-link-source="tiny">citi.com/fraudprevention</a>.</p>

Have a College Kid? These Quick Tips Can Help Them Avoid Student Scams.

<p>If it seems like you&rsquo;re always seeing news headlines about scams, it&rsquo;s probably not your imagination; reported losses from fraud reached an all-time high last year. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data shows that consumers reported being swindled out of a whopping $10 billion to scammers &mdash;&nbsp;$1 billion more than 2022.</p>
<p>To help you stay vigilant, we&rsquo;ve compiled a snapshot of eight prevalent scams, including how to spot them and what to do to make sure your funds are protected.</p>
<h2>1. Sweetheart scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> Scammers capitalize on the popularity of dating sites or apps by setting up a fake profile to establish<s>in</s>g online relationships with victims. Once they gain your friendship and confidence, they encourage you to <a href="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/lam/articles/money/investing/investment-scams-are-a-3-billion-problem-here-s-how-to-steer-clear" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-source="tiny">get in on a so-called investment opportunity</a> or they ask for money (say, for an emergency or to come visit you) or private, sensitive information such as where you work or live.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Act on your instincts. If you feel like this person is coming on too strong &mdash; asking personal questions, pushing an investment opportunity or requesting money, for example &mdash; &nbsp;notify the dating site or app and hit delete on their profile.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2. Grandparent cons</h2>
<p><strong>How they work: </strong>Someone posing as a relative sends an email or calls you saying he or she is in trouble and needs you to&nbsp;send money right away. In some cases, the voice on the line may sound just like your relative if the scammer has tapped into the rising trend of using an AI &nbsp;voice cloning program. The scammer asks you not to tell anyone they&rsquo;re in a crisis, such as a car accident or arrest, and directs you to a neighborhood location to transfer or send the funds.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> No matter how convincing it sounds, don't fall for this tale of woe. Notify police immediately and provide them with the details for wiring the money, if you have it. Additionally, alert the individual who the scammer was impersonating and let other friends or family members know that this took place.</p>
<p><img class="right_image" src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-1067418572_web.jpg" alt="Man with white hair and a white beard in an orange sweater sits in a chair with a laptop in his lap"></p>
<h2>3. IRS frauds</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> Beware of calls, letters and emails from fake IRS agents about bogus tax bills, instant windfalls or exemptions from filing or paying taxes. They use the authority of the agency to scare their victims into verifying personal information, such as your Social Security number or birth date, or providing or confirming financial information like your bank's routing number or a credit card number.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Hang up if you receive such a phone call. The IRS will never ask for this information or for any payment over the phone or in an email. If you receive a letter from the IRS, do not call the number on the letter. Instead, do a quick online search for the phone number of the IRS, and call that one to find out if the letter is valid.</p>
<h2>4. Telephone scams</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> Scammers call, selling fake products or pretending to be customer service representatives. What they're really after is your financial and personal information. They're masters at making conversation and will try to keep you on the phone to win your trust. (In fact, a recent FTC report cited that telephone scams make up the highest per-person fraud loss.) &nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>What to do: </strong>Hang up immediately. Unless you initiate the call to a trusted company, do not buy anything over the phone. Consider placing your number on the Do Not Call Registry. Better yet, if you don&rsquo;t recognize the number, let the call go to voicemail. If the caller is legitimate, they&rsquo;ll leave a message.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>5. Lottery/Sweepstakes hoaxes</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> Someone contacts you about winning the lottery or a sweepstakes. And, to claim the prize, the caller asks you to pay a processing fee by sending money, paying with credit card or debit card from your checking account. The caller may also ask you to confirm personal information like your credit card account numbers, birth date or Social Security number.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Be on alert &mdash; the FTC reported that email is the top way scammers contact potential victims. Keep in mind that legitimate promotions never ask you to pay to receive a prize. If you receive an email that seems off, report this to your local authorities or to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>6. Email/Text ploys</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> These scams, also known as phishing scams, inform you that a company&rsquo;s website has been hacked or that the company needs to update your information. You get directed to a fake website that looks official and very similar to the real one and are asked to enter your password or re-enter personal information.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Only click on links or open attachments within emails from senders you know. When in doubt, contact the company directly using the phone number on a statement or on their website.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>7. Fake fundraisers</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> Scammers know that people are particularly generous around the holidays or when natural disasters or other global crises happen, so they pose as representatives with a charity or other organization seeking donations. They typically ask that you give money by using a credit card or a direct debit from your checking account. They don't accept mail-in donations, citing that the cause is urgent and needs your immediate attention.</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> Be certain you are interfacing with a recognized charity when donating over the phone or online, whether it's to police organizations or a cancer-fighting cause. To be on the safe side, consider looking up the group's physical address and mailing your donations directly. It&rsquo;s also helpful to review the <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/shopping-and-donating/donating-charity" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-source="tiny">FTC&rsquo;s guidelines for donating wisely</a>.</p>
<h2>8. Delivery gimmicks</h2>
<p><strong>How they work:</strong> Online shopping has increased the last few years and scammers have found ways to capitalize on that. They&rsquo;ll send an email, call or leave a tag at your door about a missed package. Instructions to receive the package may include having to open a link and enter personal information or verifying account or credit card information with an operator.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong> <s>&nbsp;</s>Avoid clicking on links from senders you don&rsquo;t recognize or making payments online or over the phone &mdash; legitimate delivery services will not require giving personal financial information.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ultimately, if you do become a victim of a scam, don't feel ashamed. Report it to your local police and notify your bank and credit card companies immediately. And be sure to alert family and friends so they don't fall prey, too. For more information about scams and scam prevention, visit citi.com/fraudprevention and the FTC&rsquo;s Scam Awareness page.<i>&nbsp;</i></p>
<p><i>--With additional reporting from Life and Money by Citi editors</i></p>

Consumers are reporting more losses than ever due to fraud. These tips can help you keep  your money safe from common scams. 

8 Financial Scams to Watch Out For

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