October is Cyber ​​Security Awareness Month, which means it’s the perfect time to learn how to protect yourself from scams.

“Scams have become so sophisticated now. Phishing emails, texts, caller ID spoofing, all of these technologies give scammers that advantage,” 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 being scammed is to think about the three S’s, said Alissa Abdullah, also known as Dr. Jay, Mastercard’s deputy chief security officer.

“Stay suspicious, stop for a second (and think about it) and stay protected,” she said.

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

Know the scammers’ tactics

Three common tactics used by scammers are based on fear, urgency and money, said security expert Petros Efstathopoulos. Here’s how it works:

Fear

When a scammer contacts you by phone or email, they use language that makes it sound like there’s a problem you need to solve. For example, a scammer contacts you by email saying that there is an error on your tax return and if you don’t fix it, you will be in trouble.

Expedite

Because scammers are good at creating a sense of urgency, people tend to be in a hurry, which makes them vulnerable. Scammers often tell people they need to act immediately, which can prompt them to share private information like their Social Security numbers.

Money

Scammers use money as bait, Efstathopoulos said. They may impersonate tax professionals or the IRS by saying you’ll 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 frequently target vulnerable people, such as the elderly, disabled and people in debt.

“If you get a robocall out of the blue, paying for a recorded message, trying to get you to buy something, hang up,” said James Lee, director of operations at the Identity Theft Resource Center. “The same goes for text messages – whenever you get them from a number you don’t know, asking you to pay, transfer or click on something suspicious.”

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

Scammers will often impersonate someone in authority, such as a tax or debt collector. It could be pretending to be a loved one calling to request immediate financial assistance for bail, legal help or a hospital bill.

Romantic scams

So-called “romance scams” often target single and isolated individuals, according to Will Maxson, deputy director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Marketing Practices. These scams can take place over longer periods of time – even years.

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

“If you see that picture of a really beautiful person, ask someone younger in your life — a child, a grandchild, a niece or nephew — to help you look for the reverse image or identify the photo,” she said.

She said the man in the images received was a plastic surgeon from Spain whose photos were stolen and used by scammers.

Kleinart was also living in isolation during the early pandemic when she received her initial friend request, and company and communication meant a lot to her while she was cut off from her family. When the scam collapsed, she missed the relationship even more than the savings.

“Losing love was worse than losing money,” she said.

Job scams

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

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

“They’re going to have very high wages for somewhat low-skilled work,” she said. “And I often say it’s a 100 percent remote position because it’s so appealing to people.”

Some scammers post fake jobs, but others reach job seekers directly through direct messages or text messages. If scammers are looking to steal your personal information, they may ask you to fill out several forms that include information such as your social security number and driver’s license details.

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

Generally, other details should not be shared with an employer until after you have received an offer.

Investment scams

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

Investment scammers usually add various forms of “testimonials” such as from other social media accounts to claim that the “investment” works. Many of these also involve cryptocurrencies. To avoid falling for these scams, the FTC recommends doing independent company research — specifically by searching for the company name along with terms like “review” or “scam.”

Survey scams

When using Facebook or scrolling through Google results, be aware of survey scamswhich usually seem harmless and ask you about topics you might be interested in, such as your car or your favorite TV show. They may also ask you to take a personality test.

Despite these seemingly obvious questions, scammers can use the personal information you share to answer security questions on your accounts or hack social networks to send malicious links to your contacts.

To protect your personal information, The FTC simply recommends avoiding online surveys. The Commission also advises consumers to use random answers for security questions.

“Did you ask to enter your mother’s maiden name? Say it’s something else: Parmesan or another word you’ll remember,” advises Terri Miller, consumer education specialist at the FTC. “That way, scammers won’t be able to use the information they find to steal your identity.”

Scams on the market

When buying or selling products on Instagram or Facebook Marketplace, remember that not everyone who contacts you has the best intentions.

To avoid being scammed when selling through an online platform, the FTC recommends checking buyer profiles, not sharing codes sent over the phone or email, and avoiding accepting online payments from strangers.

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

Do not answer if you do not know who is calling

Scammers often reach out by phone, Ben Hoffman, head of strategy and consumer products at Fifth Third Bank, advises you not to pick up unknown incoming calls.

“Banks don’t ask for your password,” Hoffman said. If you think your bank is trying to get in touch, call them at a number listed on their website.

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

If you receive many unknown calls that turn out to be scammers or robocalls, you can use the tools available on your phone to block spam. Check here how to do it yourself iPhone and here for Android.

Use all the technology at your disposal

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

— Use a password manager to make sure you use a strong password that scammers can’t guess.

— Regularly checking your credit report and bank statements is a good practice as it can help you identify if someone will be using your bank account without your knowledge.

— Enable multi-factor verification to ensure impersonators can’t access your social media or bank accounts.

When in doubt, call for help

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

Organizations like the Identity Theft Resource 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 the victim of a scam.

Share what you know with your loved ones

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

Report the scam

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

Morga writes for the Associated Press.