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
  1188 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
  1253 Hits

Search Blogs Module

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