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Your Anti-Fraud Checklist

To help you and those you care about stay safe, use the comprehensive "Your Anti-Fraud Checklist". This detailed guide covers essential behaviors to stop fraud attempts, actions to take if you suspect fraud, and preparatory steps to minimize impact. Whether you're tech-savvy or helping someone who isn't, this checklist provides clear, actionable steps to protect against scams. From setting up strong passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication to verifying suspicious contacts and setting up alert notifications, this guide has everything you need to stay secure.

According to The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2023 ELDER FRAUD REPORT, elders have been particularly targeted by scammers and thieves. Some notable stats:

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Your Anti-Fraud Checklist

🔇 Ignore:

Ignore unsolicited calls, emails, texts, and social media messages.
Respond only to known contacts. If unsure, always verify!

🛑 Stop:

Do not click on pop-ups, links, or attachments from unknown sources.
Do not contact numbers provided in unsolicited messages.
Do not give control of your computer to unknown individuals.
Do not share personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call to a verified number.

🔌 Disconnect:

End communication with suspected scammers.
Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see suspicious pop-ups or locked screens.
Avoid opening email attachments from unknown senders.

⏳ Wait:

Resist pressure to act quickly; take your time to verify the situation.
Wait for checks to clear before acting on them to avoid overpayment scams.

✔️ Verify:

Independently verify the identity of contacts by looking up their official contact information.
Only download apps and software from verified, trusted sources.

👥 Consult:

Discuss unusual communications with trusted friends or advisors.
Research online for reports of similar scams.

📈 Monitor:

Set up alert notifications for transactions and changes in your online accounts.
Verify alerts for any transactions you make.

🔒 Protect:

Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Keep software and systems updated.
Use secure Wi-Fi and ensure your home Wi-Fi has a strong password.
Use reputable anti-virus software and firewalls.
Enable pop-up blockers.
Use a credit monitoring service and place credit freezes/locks.

🛡️ Privacy:

Adjust privacy settings on devices and online accounts to limit data sharing.
Properly dispose of personal documents.
Be cautious about sharing personal information; use fake details for non-essential services.
Pre-authorize who can access your personal health information.

📚 Educate:

Stay informed about new scams by subscribing to newsletters from AARP, FTC, NCOA, CFPB, and Fraud.org.

Actions to Take if You Believe You Are Actively Being Frauded

🔌 Disconnect:

Immediately cease all communication with the scammer.
Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if necessary.

✔️ Verify:

Independently verify any suspicious communications by contacting the institution directly using verified contact information.

📢 Report:

Report the incident to your local FBI field office and the FBI IC3 at www.ic3.gov.
Notify your financial institutions and credit agencies.
Report the fraud to local law enforcement.

📈 Monitor and Protect:

Check for unauthorized transactions and changes in your accounts.
Change passwords and enable MFA on affected accounts.
Place fraud alerts with credit agencies.

Actions to Reduce Fraud Impact

🔐 Account Protection:

Ensure recovery options are enabled for important accounts (iCloud, Google, financial institutions).
Regularly update passwords.
Set up alert notifications for account activities.

📑 Document Security:

Memorize key contact information.
Keep photocopies of important documents (credit cards, passports, insurance cards) in a secure place.
Share access to devices with a trusted person in case of an emergency.

📱 Device Security:

Use strong passcodes and biometric authentication on your smartphone.
Enable ‘Find My’ services to locate or remotely erase your device if lost or stolen.
Use a password manager and automatic security updates.
Back up data to the cloud regularly.

☁️ Cloud Account Protection:

Remove unused devices from your account.
Validate and update recovery information, including email addresses and phone numbers.
Create a recovery key and keep it safe.
Update security questions and answers.

📞 Phone Number Security:

Set up a PIN or password with your carrier to prevent unauthorized transfers.
Enable alert notifications for changes to your account.

📚 Education and Awareness:

Stay informed about new scams and fraud prevention tips through reputable sources.
Regularly review and adjust privacy settings on devices and accounts.
Shred and dispose of personal documents properly.

Download the PDF for Detailed Explanations
of the Fraud Prevention and Preparation Checklist

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