Scammers are getting sneakier, inventing new methods every day of planting viruses and stealing information from us. They catch us off-guard, and prey on our natural instincts. How can we recognize these scams?   

Increase Your Knowledge of Scams and Trust Your Instincts  

One recent phishing scam that we witnessed was the receipt of an e-mail confirmation for a recent order that was in the process of being delivered. Of course, the customer never placed an order to this particular business and the natural instinct was to click on the "View Order" button to answer the natural questions, "Who are you?", "What did I order?" and "Is this a mistake?". However, upon clicking on the link, it downloads an attachment which, if opened, grants access to all of your computer's information. Any unsuspecting person could easily be caught off guard in this situation.  

How can we be prepared to ward off these phishing scams? Being well-informed and aware of possible scams helps us stay safe. Here are 4 ways that you can prevent being a victim of a phishing scam:             

1. Don't volunteer your Social Security Number over the internet. Most banks and other businesses only ask for the last 4 digits for identification.
2. Don't reply to e-mail links or click on e-mail links from unknown sources.    
3. Check your online banking once a day for suspicious activity and transactions that you do not recognize.   
4. Scammers create fake web pages that closely resemble the original web site. If you receive an e-mail from your bank or credit card company with a link to verify personal information, do not respond to it. Call them directly to report your situation.   

• Lemon Lime Soda
• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Pop Rocks (Blue and Red)