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Fraud prevention2 xsi

Phish of the Week

An email arrives claiming that someone tried to break into your bank account.

To fix it, you’re instructed to call a phone number. Should you?

Slide the red bar below from right to left to see why this is a scam.

March 1 Phish of the week left
March 1 Phish of the week right
Before
After

Don’t respond. Don’t unsubscribe. Delete the email.

If you’re worried about your account, go to the bank’s website and login yourself.

Close-up of a hand holding a smartphone with a blurred laptop keyboard in the background. Large text says 'Contact'. Below, headline reads 'Request An IT Consultation' and subtext says 'Xtreme Solutions is here to help you with all your IT needs in Metro Atlanta and across the country.'

Beware of AI-Generated
Celebrity Deepfakes

Ron Howard (Opie from "The Andy Griffith Show") didn't write this political Facebook message, yet it still racked up hundreds of thousands of likes.
Ron Howard (Opie from "The Andy Griffith Show") didn't write this political Facebook message, yet it still racked up hundreds of thousands of likes.
A viral anti-Kanye West video featuring Steven Spielberg, David Schwimmer, Scarlett Johansson, and others spread quickly, but none of the images were genuine.
A viral anti-Kanye West video featuring Steven Spielberg, David Schwimmer, Scarlett Johansson, and others spread quickly, but none of the images were genuine.
French President Emmanuel Macron as MacGyver, the TV hero. The clip, however, was entirely fabricated.
French President Emmanuel Macron as MacGyver, the TV hero. The clip, however, was entirely fabricated.
Kelly Clarkson was falsely featured in social media ads promoting weight loss gummies, despite having no connection to the product.
Kelly Clarkson was falsely featured in social media ads promoting weight loss gummies, despite having no connection to the product.
A phony Tom Hanks in a video promoting a diabetes supplement.
A phony Tom Hanks in a video promoting a diabetes supplement.
The genuine Property Brothers star Jonathan Scott warns people to be suspicious when a celebrity appears to endorse a product or speak out about a cause.
The genuine Property Brothers star Jonathan Scott warns people to be suspicious when a celebrity appears to endorse a product or speak out about a cause.

One more thing...

March 1 cartoon

Answers to Your
Cybersecurity Questions

“I got a notification that an old email was found on the dark web with my password. I have long since closed that account and do not use that password for anything else. Is it okay to disregard the notice, or should I be worried? What about old phone numbers that we no longer have?”

— Tammy

Good for you for closing the account — not just deleting it from your computer. You’re in good shape. One thing: make sure the password you used on that old account wasn’t reused on other another account. If it is reused, log in and change it.

Which password manager program do you recommend?

— Carolyn B.

We are careful not to recommend specific products because what’s the best choice for one person might not be for someone else. The New York Times and CNET like 1Password and Bitwarden. TechRadar likes NordPass and Dashlane. They’re all secure. Some cost more than others and offer a range of features like VPNs and multi-factor authentication management.

My husband and I own our home outright. Can someone commit title fraud if our house is in a trust?

— Angela W.

Title fraud, where someone illegally transfers the ownership of a home to themselves and tries to sell or refinance it, occurs in less than 1% of all mortgage applications. Fraudsters typically target homes owned by individuals, as forging a single homeowner’s signature is easier than altering trust documents. A trust significantly reduces the risk of title fraud, but monitoring property records is still good. Keep your mortgage documents in a secure location and consider using a title lock service, which helps protect homeowners from title fraud by keeping an eye on property records. 

Send us your cybersecurity question for possible use in a future newsletter.

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