Protecting Your Personal Data Online: A Cybersecurity Check-In
Dustin A. Husarik, CFP®
Executive Vice President – Financial Advisor
Magnan Family Wealth Management
Fraud aimed at investors and retirees isn’t slowing down, it’s evolving. Scammers are using new tools, including AI, to make their schemes more convincing than ever. Here’s what’s happening right now, and simple steps you can take to keep your accounts and identity safe.
What Scammers Are Doing Right Now
“Did you authorize this transaction?” texts. One of the most common scams today starts with a text asking you to reply YES or NO to confirm a charge you never made. Responding at all (even with NO) can trigger a follow-up call from a fake “fraud department” that tries to walk you through “securing” your account, which really means handing over your login credentials or one-time codes.
AI voice and video deepfakes. Criminals are now cloning voices. Sometimes a grandchild’s and sometimes a financial professional’s, to create urgency and demand money quickly. In one recent case, a senior lost nearly $1 million to a scam built around an AI-generated deepfake. If a call or video feels urgent and asks for money or account access, treat it as a red flag no matter how real it sounds.
Gold and cash courier scams. A newer twist on the “your account has been flagged” scam has fraudsters convincing victims to withdraw cash or buy gold, then send a courier to “safely” pick it up. It’s simply a new packaging for an old trick, creating panic so you skip the verification step.
Fake invoices and business email compromise. Professionally designed emails that mimic real vendors or institutions are tricking people into paying invoices for services never rendered or clicking links that install malware.
Romantic scams. Fraudsters build relationships (often romantic but sometimes friendly) over weeks or months, gradually gaining their trust before persuading them to send money for an “urgent” situation. These schemes remain one of the costliest categories of fraud reported to the FBI.
The pattern behind nearly all of these is urgency, secrecy, and pressure to act now.
Simple Habits That Make a Big Difference
Update your passwords and use a password manager. Reusing the same password across accounts means one data breach can expose everything. A password manager (like NordPass or Dashlane) generates and stores strong, unique passwords for every account so you don’t need to remember them at all.
Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) to your phone, not your email. Two factor authentication adds a second layer of verification beyond your password. If a scammer has already compromised your email, an email based code isn’t a safe backup. Use an authenticator app or text codes sent directly to your phone instead.
Don’t click links in unexpected emails or texts. If a message claims to be from your bank, the IRS, Social Security, or even us, go directly to the official website or call a known number rather than clicking anything in the message. Hover over links to preview where they actually lead before clicking.
Pause before responding to urgency. Any message demanding an immediate response, payment, or secrecy deserves a second look and a phone call to verify, using a number you already know is legitimate, not one provided in the message itself.
Freeze your credit. A credit freeze is one of the most effective, and most overlooked, tools available. It restricts access to your credit report, which means a scammer who has your Social Security number can’t open a new credit card, loan, or line of credit in your name. Freezing is free, doesn’t affect your existing accounts or credit score, and can be lifted temporarily whenever you need to apply for credit yourself. You’ll need to contact all three bureaus separately to freeze your file
· Equifax: Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 1(800) 349-9960
· Experian: Experian.com/freeze or 1(888) 397-3742
· TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze or 1(888) 909-8872
It only takes a few minutes with each bureau, and it’s one of the few steps that protects you even if your personal information has already been exposed in a data breach.
When in Doubt, Call Us
If you ever receive a call, text, or email that you believe to be fraudulent please reach out to us for guidance.
Stay safe online!
Dustin A. Husarik CFP®
PM-01092028-5735320
Senior lost almost $1M in 'increasingly common' deepfake scam - Orillia News