Asset Planning, Inc Blog

The latest from the team.

Cell Phone SIM Swap Scam

Just when we thought we were safe by setting up two-step authentication on our accounts, hackers are getting smarter and scamming us in a different way. The new scam is when a hacker calls your cell phone service provider, pretends to be you and says that you lost your phone and need to activate the new one. They do this by having enough personal information about you to convince the cell phone provider that it is really you. Once they have this information all your texts, phone calls and anything else you receive on your phone will be transferred to their phone and yours will be deactivated. So, all those text messages you receive when logging into your accounts will go directly to the new phone and right into the hacker's hands. This is scary stuff. Please read the following article with the detailed information on the scam and ways to protect yourself from having it happen to you.

How To Prevent and Respond to a SIM Swap Scan

Continue reading
  1227 Hits

More Scam Alerts and Security Tips

We've come across a few more scams that we thought you should be aware of...

The first one is a scam where an unknown number will call you and only ring once or twice and not leave a message. Your first instinct is to call them back to see who it is. It turns out that it is a 900 number you are calling back and you get charged for the call. The phone companies are not reversing the charges for these calls so be weary on calling back unusual numbers. My thought is if it's important whoever is calling you will leave a message.

Next, a client alerted us to a company that is offering free cell phones to seniors with low income. They ask for all your personal information such as social security numbers, drivers license numbers, etc. There are some legit companies out there that do offer these programs but there are also scammers out there trying to steal identities. Before giving out your personal information be sure to do your research on the company or person who you're dealing with. You don't want your information getting in the wrong hands.

Lastly, stay vigilant with people calling or emailing you and asking for your personal information. Legitimate companies will never call or email you to get passwords or social security numbers. One way to tell in an email is by looking at the grammar. More times than not on a scam email the grammar will be wrong. Also, NEVER click on a link sent to you in an email from someone you don't recognize. If you are in doubt about whether a request for information is legitimate or not, always call the company back on a number that you have looked up yourself, so you know that you're actually calling the right place.

If you have any scams that you would like to tell us about, so we can alert our clients, please email me at melani@assetplanninginc.com

We hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Melani

Continue reading
  1278 Hits

Search Blogs Module

Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
Medicare Advantage emergency kit car loans Supplemental Security Income Medicare Part B pet industry rescue organizations donation items tax deadlines 2018 IRA contributions portal October 1 2020. chip-enabled EMV cards app pet donation drive tax deadline flash drive Economic Security Coronavirus Aid card reader EEChecklist-Kits.pdf stockpilingchecklist.pdf credit score market turmoil team members IRA accounts FEMA website stimulus package Financial Planning Magazine Medicare Part B premiums items Federal Trade Commission website VOIP landline phones Auto insurance April 11 scams credit card fraud home Part D premiums . D premiums Facebook profile phishing scams CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER exam credit card company paper records IRS Amazon February 14 cell phones operations manager Open Enrollment April 15 insurance policy integral member retirement plans home emergency preparedness kits asset Planning earnings fallout estate planning payments people medications Orange County Flexible Spending Account client portal breach student loans information Healthcare identity theft life saver interest rates 20 year anniversary retirement accounts water … trustee increase privacy settings tax filing deadlines company cell phone service provider September 9 emergency kits jury duty privacy notices settlement options September 8 Victor Dergunov padlock wells Fargo 70 1/2. spread memorial Day weekend Kraig Mathias Ice Cream Social checklists California Lions Friends cell phone carriers identity thieves email notifications COVID -19 virus emergency folder Medicare question July weekend phone 4 pm -8pm fun atmosphere Open House DNA test kits account numbers drive /usb business hours home security Retirement Contribution Limits Orange County Superior Court Medicare plan spam phone Independence Day Part B phishing sites July 6 Affordable Care Act pet supplies parking spots Brexit vote self-help topics clients money media accounts bottom line policy interest blog post tax season documents debt prescription eyeglasses phone companies April 18 2017. borrowing money credit cards stock pile holidays approach news coverage banking TD Ameritrade information Facebook toilet paper Asset Planning June 29 trust Joey Gonzales partner /owner 2017 TD Ameritrade National LINC Conference Roth IRA Legal robocalls Treasury Department 401K Erin Nelsen health care costs https ://seekingalpha home mortgages paperwork clutter vision screening Shred paperwork investment statements https :// home break-ins Expired medications ice cream event Mobile Banking Security Tips health care services opt-out offering insurance ID card spring cleaning retirement clone counterfeits credit freeze Wells Fargo customers text messages clients show support National Ice Cream month years gap insurance summer non-prescripstion sunglasses tax records Kiplinger Letter Two-Step Verification markets CA FTB birth certificates 900 number pet executive order September 30 2020. Notary Public CARES Act Medicare contribution limit January 10 2017 Equifax breach CFP ® estate driver license ice cream donation counts vacation Labor Day home emergency kit official certification July 3 rd fees IRS deadline check lists insurance policies Wells Fargo employees records “ skimmer ”. illiegal robocallers coronavirus estate planning direction Fox News story hurricane Dorian notary services web address credit monitoring service July 4 fun facts tax returns Social Security assets Social Security Administration president Trump retirement planning Puerto Rico cell phone provider earthquake app relief efforts 23 andme family members cell phone carriers offer consumer spending Charles Schwab house sitter 2017 IRA contributions disaster areas pets cell phone SIM swap scam FSA