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Go Phish

I cannot tell you how many times in the not-so-distant-past that I have had family members, friends, and even an ex reach out to me with a concern about a text or an email they have received. These messages are usually from a weird email address or unrecognizable phone number, but they are all the same–PHISHING. Phishing is defined as “the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.” And my answer to each of them regarding this suspicious activity is usually the same…ignore it. Reporting it works, too.

These annoying attempts at collecting my information don’t usually scare me. But, when I get something weird from my bank, I panic. And you should too. I’m going to suggest that you reach out to your bank BEFORE you get some kind of message that induces an anxiety attack and request that they set up suspicious alert notifications on your accounts. I would be surprised to learn of any financial institution in this day and age that does not offer this comforting service.

So, reach out and get some peace of mind. It’s free.

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