ANYONE with a smartphone or computer needs to follow four rules to stay safe in 2024.
That’s the official advice from the US government in a “New Year’s Resolutions” scam alert.
Cyber-criminals use increasingly sophisticated tactics to part you from your money – and to steal your info.
But most scams tend to follow similar patterns, which means some simple rules can help you to stay safe.
“Next year, resolve to protect yourself from scams that can damage your finances and reputation,” said Mark Majestic, associate commissioner at the Social Security Administration.
“Ring in 2024 with some smart resolutions to protect your personal information!”
One of the most common scam tactics is something called phishing.
That’s when a crook tricks you into thinking they’re from a familiar organization.
But the government’s first rule to follow is to be extremely careful with whom you share your info.
“Stay alert when receiving unsolicited calls that claim to be from banks, government agencies, or other well-known companies,” Majestic explained.
“When in doubt, contact the organization directly through official channels to verify that the request is real before sharing any personal information or making payment.”
The second rule is to use strong passwords – and never re-use them.
A short and simple password can be cracked in seconds, while long passwords are far safer.
You must never re-use passwords, as a hacker who steals one log-in can then break into more of your accounts.
To avoid having to remember them all, consider using a password manager.
Your iPhone has iCloud Keychain built-in, and Google Chrome has its own password manager too.
The third rule is to be very wary when scanning QR codes.
“QR codes are increasingly popular in restaurants, on parking meters, in emails, and on social media,” Majestic warned.
“Scammers have noticed! They are physically placing fake QR codes on top of official ones or creating fake QR codes on social media advertisements to get access to your personal information.
“Never scan random QR codes. If the QR code looks odd or altered, do not scan it.”
If you’re unsure about a QR code, consider asking a member of staff if it looks familiar.
And finally, make sure to keep your social media profiles protected.
Savvy crooks will often check your social profiles to make their scams more personalized.
The government advises checking your friends list regularly and removing any “unfamiliar or suspicious accounts.”
