Practice Cyber Safety This Holiday Season

As the holidays near, cybercriminals will ramp up their attacks on you and your loved ones in a desperate hope to catch you off guard. This year, however, their attacks may be more difficult to spot because the fraudsters' attempts might be aided with Artificial Intelligence (AI.) Luckily, The Iowa Bankers Association (IBA) has collected the best practices to defend yourself and common scams to be aware of, and we want to share the invaluable knowledge with you so you can be protected. 

General Holiday Cyber Awareness Tips 

• Treat every email and advertisement with suspicion. Don't respond to unsolicited emails that ask you to click on a link or download an app to access a deal. Rather than clicking on a link from an email or text, go directly to the site of the company purportedly offering the deal. Watch out for spelling errors or incorrect grammar on emails or texts as these are typical red flags that help identify bogus content. 
• Is it too good to be true? Look out for huge discounts on gift items, especially on social media posts or unfamiliar websites. These types of scams will impersonate major brands or nonexistent retailers to entice you with great deals for products you'll never actually receive. 
• Steer clear of Wi-Fi woes. Avoid conducting any business online (making a purchase, donating, accessing password-protected sites) while using a public Wi-Fi network unless you employ a virtual private network (VPN.)
• Avoid peculiar payment methods. Any time you are prompted to make a purchase or donation by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift card, it's a scam. 

Fraud can occur anywhere and at anytime, but this time of year is filled with stress, last minute shopping, and a potential for overlooking signs of scams. Cybercriminals are utilizing more sophisticated tools to trick you as well, so make sure you are always vigilant. That's why we are dedicated to protecting you and your assets. 

Source: Iowa Bankers Association