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
  1353 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
  1367 Hits

Search Blogs Module

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