According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) citizens in the United States were scammed out of more than $10 billion in 2023, a 14% increase over reported losses in 2022.

Scams are nothing new, but they are rapidly increasing, and scammers constantly find new ways to take people’s money and steal their identity. Investment scams and imposter scams top the list but there are countless other ways people are being scammed. The best protection is education and knowing what to look for and how to spot a scam.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of being a victim of fraud.

Mail Theft

Mail theft is a major problem, criminals are robbing postal workers and stealing mail and their arrow keys which are used to access blue mail collection boxes. They are also stealing mail from residential and business mailboxes. To protect yourself be cautious about how you send and receive mail.

Sign up for Informed Delivery through USPS, when you sign up for Informed Delivery you will receive a Morning Daily Digest email each day that shows a preview image of all incoming mail, as well as status updates about your incoming and outbound packages. You can see those notifications at any time via the dashboard from your phone, computer, or tablet or in the USPS Mobile app. Informed Delivery also has other features that make tracking and receiving your packages easier and more convenient. When you know what mail to expect each day you will be aware if something is missing. See my article USPS Informed Delivery

Retrieve your mail from the mailbox as soon as possible after it has been delivered and don’t put mail out for pickup that contains any kind of confidential information, instead give it to your mail carrier directly or take it to the local Post Office, don’t use the blue collection boxes. Sign up for electronic statements and invoices with your utility companies and financial institutions so those documents are not sent in the mail.

Guard Your Entry Ways

Install video doorbell cameras at each entry, these allow you to view and speak to anyone who comes to your door without unlocking or opening the door. You can monitor the cameras using an app on your smartphone. Never open your door to someone you don’t know, scammers can pose as service workers or someone you might trust to enter your home.

Even Your Trash is Vulnerable

Thieves go through residential and commercial trash receptacles to steal personal information that they can use for identity theft. Before you dispose of mail, expired cards or anything that contains identifying or personal information shred it first.

Monitor & Freeze Your Credit

One of the most important steps you can take to prevent identity theft is to freeze your credit with the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Transunion and Experian. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit reports. When your credit reports are frozen creditors cannot access your reports, this prevents new lines of credit from being opened in your name. To allow lenders and creditors access to your reports you can lift the freeze temporarily. You can freeze your credit with all three major credit bureaus online or by phone.

You also want to regularly check your credit reports for errors which if found can indicated identity theft. You can get a free copy of your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com

See my article Why You Should Check Your Credit Report for Errors

Be Alert to Card Skimmers

Card skimmers installed on credit card readers at places like gas stations, stores, restaurants and bank ATM’s capture your credit card information when you insert it into the card skimmer. Criminals also install hidden cameras that capture your PIN number when you enter it. These can be hard to spot so each time you insert your card double check for any signs that the card reader has been tampered with such as alignment issues, difficulty inserting or removing your card, cracked or broken pieces or tiny pin holes that may indicate a hidden camera. Instead of swiping your card use tap to pay or a payment app on your phone.

Guard Your Wallet and Purse

We have a tendency to carry all kinds of personal items in our purse or wallet. While it is necessary to carry some things such as your driver’s license or credit card it can be dangerous to carry other documents and information. There are things you might need to carry with you for a certain activity or appointment, but they can be left at home when you are not using them. Personal items you carry with you can lead to identity theft if they are lost or stolen. See my article Items You Should Never Carry in Your Purse or Wallet

Secure Financial Accounts

Create online accounts for all of your financial institutions, opt out of mailed statements and invoices which can lead to mail theft and opt for electronic copies instead. Use a strong, unique password and multifactor authentication for each account. Log into each account weekly and review transactions so that you spot anything that could indicate fraud quickly. If you spot something unusual report it immediately.

Protect Your Phone, Computer & Other Devices

Our smartphones are mini-computers that contain a ton of private information, if your phone is lost or stolen a criminal should not be able to access the data. Use a passcode on your phone, this can be a manual passcode or a biometric code such as your fingerprint or facial recognition. Use a password manager on your phone to save your usernames and passwords in a secure, encrypted database. Enable find my phone so that if it is lost or stolen you can track it or erase it remotely. Don’t respond to text messages or answer calls from people you don’t know. Sign out of email and financial apps and websites when you are done using them.

Use a password or biometrics to log into your computer and other devices, keep your devices, apps and programs up to date, updates are released to address security flaws. Use multifactor authentication for every website that offers it and use a strong, unique password for each website and change it several times a year. Install antivirus software.

Be Careful with Email

Use a unique password and multifactor authentication for each email account you have, when you are finished using your email log out, don’t save your password in the browser. Don’t open links or file attachments that you are unsure of even if you know the sender.

Don’t Overshare on Social Media

Social media may seem harmless, but it is a hotbed of criminal activity. Thieves use social media to harvest personal information that can be used for fraud and identity theft, hacking and account takeovers, phishing attacks and scams are just some of the dangers of social media. Don’t share your and personal information. Keep your life private.

Online Shopping

Online shopping is convenient but can be dangerous, you must be aware of fake online stores, unencrypted data, identity theft, data breaches and other dangers. Be sure the websites you are using are reputable and secure, a secure website should start with “https” and display the padlock symbol. Don’t save your payment information when checking out, never use a debit card to make a purchase use a credit card and consider getting a credit card that is strictly for online shopping. Review the privacy statement and if a deal seems to good to be true it probably is.