Steps to take to avoid becoming a banking scam victim
It is no secret that millions of dollars are being lost to scammers worldwide, therefore it is important to have the proper systems in place to avoid being the next victim. Internet scams come in many forms; the most common being phishing scams where the object is to obtain your email address or banking details. Here are some simple steps to take:
1 Don’t log in by clicking on a link
You just don’t know whether the link is from your bank or a scammer these days. It is advisable to type in the URL in your browser.
2 Use a two-factor id
A two factor login is where you log in with an username and password and a text message or an email message where you are given a code to type into the bank’s website.
Here is An example of how two-factor verification works: I sign in to do internet bank with a username and password. I then receive a text message with a code which I then enter to complete the signing process. This code may be sent to your email address if you have chosen to receive this code by email.
3 Use a different email address for your banking
The email address you use for your banking should never be used for other sites such as dating. Scammers will use these sites to try and hack into your email address.
4 Do not connect your debit card to your personal account on any website
I know someone who did this and the website concerned was hacked which exposed the banking details to the hacker. He lost $3,000 as a result.
5 Do not leave all of your money in the one account
If you have a large sum of money for someone’s inheritance or some other purpose then place it into an account which you cannot access through the internet. That way a scammer cannot have access online.
6 When you are using a google account to register with a particular site do not use any gmail account which is used for your banking.
It is worth keeping in mind that sites which hold your personal details may themselves be hacked into which means that your personal details are exposed to cyber criminals. This is what happened to the person who had 3k disappear from his account. It had a happy ending as the bank reimbursed him.
Do not under any circumstances hand over your username, password, or other details if anyone asks for it online. A bank will never ask you for this information.
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