09/18/2020
Just as we’re urged these days to remain vigilant of the coronavirus, we want to remind you to remain vigilant of financial scams. Recently that hit close to home as someone we know was scammed. With their permission, we’re sharing their story with you as a cautionary tale.
Because of a recent illness, this person was not as “on the ball” as they normally would be. They received a call from someone at their bank (or so they were told) saying that their account had been hacked and they needed to reset their password right away. The person on the line then proceeded to “help” them, which resulted in them divulging the password for their bank account to the scammer. Subsequently, their bank account was cleaned out, and several charges totaling over $30,000 were made on their credit card. Fortunately, the credit card company reversed the charges. But the money stolen from their bank account is gone, as the banks do not insure for losses due to fraud or identity theft.
When we heard this story, our immediate response was: this could happen to any of us and to be personally more vigilant about potential scammers. Then we thought about people who hold large deposits in their bank accounts.
We urge you to remain alert, because whether the scam is sophisticated or simple, we are all vulnerable.
Also consider using a savings fund in a non-registered investment account for the money you normally hold in your bank account. It adds a layer of protection in that these types of holdings typically require your authorization to make a transaction. Something to consider next time you speak with your financial advisor.
