How to Stay Secure - Part 2

          This is the busiest shopping season of the year, and most of it is being done online. This means that criminals are actively trying to find opportunities to steal your information. They often use it to try and get a fraudulent tax refund. This is our second post about how we can protect ourselves.

          Beware of scammers using fake charities. This is a time of year when many want to give to organizations. Criminals know this and try to use it to their advantage. Never let anyone pressure you into donating without doing research first. Make sure the charity is real by confirming its exact name, website, and mailing address. If the name is similar to, but not the same, as a well-known charity, this is often a sign of fraud. Give donations by credit card or check, do not give gift cards or wire money.

          Businesses need to learn best safety practices. Many cyberattacks are directed at businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Often, they are trying to steal W-2 information and have phishing schemes related to that. The most common version is an executive emails the payroll department asking for employee information. Businesses need to be aware, just like individuals.

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