Previous | Saving and investing tips for veterans Next | How merchant services can help small businesses
November 12, 2024 / Ray Wills
Cell phones are a target for scammers

Cell phones are a target for scammers

You guard your personal identifying information against scammers, but does this include your cell phone?  Access to sensitive online accounts like banking and payment services often depends on two-factor authentication, like a security code sent to you by text. If scammers can take control of your mobile number, they can intercept these codes and gain access to your accounts.

Changing service providers and keeping our phone number is known as porting. Through phishing or information found on the dark web, scammers can gather enough of your personal details to impersonate you and request that your number be ported to another provider and to a phone that they control. That’s when the scammer starts working on hijacking your accounts. They might have done extensive damage by the time you realize that you don’t have service on your phone.

Here are some tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim:Image of a woman holding a cellphone that shows an unknown caller I.D. calling on the screen.

  • Most service providers require that you set up a password or PIN on your account. If not, request it.
  • Enable both email and text notifications for your important accounts. It’s important that you act quickly when you receive notice of a transaction you didn’t authorize.
  • Don’t provide personal information to anyone through text or phone call unless you’re the one who made the call.
  • Protect your personal information as well as other details about your life that people could use against you (mother’s maiden name, the year you graduated high school, your pet’s name).
  • Use complex, unique passwords for each account.
  • Monitor your credit report and immediately report fraudulent activity or inquiries.

If you believe your cell phone has been compromised by a scammer, visit your service provider immediately. Contact your financial institution, any companies with accounts that were affected, and the police.

 

Ray Wills is security officer for F&M Trust.

Recent Articles
How merchant services can help small businesses
How merchant services can help small businesses

How merchant services can help small businesses

November 19, 2024 / Cynthia Marconi

Saving and investing tips for veterans
Saving and investing tips for veterans

Saving and investing tips for veterans

November 05, 2024 / U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Preparing to rent your first apartment
Preparing to rent your first apartment

Preparing to rent your first apartment

October 24, 2024 / Zach Hendricks

When it’s time to manage your parents’ finances
When it’s time to manage your parents’ finances

When it’s time to manage your parents’ finances

October 17, 2024 / Alyssa Proctor

The importance of special needs trusts
The importance of special needs trusts

The importance of special needs trusts

October 10, 2024 / Erin Sunday

How to safely use digital banking
How to safely use digital banking

How to safely use digital banking

October 03, 2024 / Ray Wills

It’s never too early to save for the holidays
It’s never too early to save for the holidays

It’s never too early to save for the holidays

September 26, 2024 / Pheonix Gilbert

How to set SMART financial goals
How to set SMART financial goals

How to set SMART financial goals

September 19, 2024 / Pheonix Gilbert

Why it’s important to invest financially early in your career
Why it’s important to invest financially early in your career

Why it’s important to invest financially early in your career

September 05, 2024 / Warren Hurt

Join our e-newsletter

Sign up for our e-newsletter to get new content each month.

NOTICE: YOU ARE LEAVING F&M TRUST!

You are now leaving the F&M Trust website. Links to third-party sites are provided for your convenience. Such sites are not within our control and may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility standards as ours. F&M Trust neither endorses nor guarantees offerings of the third-party providers, nor is F&M Trust responsible for the security, content or availability of third-party sites, their partners or advertisers.