12/17/2025
A relative of mine is currently dealing with the absolute nightmare of financial fraud and identity theft.
I have *three* other personal friends whose Facebook accounts - one of which was a professional profile for a business - were hacked and taken over by strangers, and Facebook won't do anything about it.
We know what we should do to protect our identity and money, but often we get complacent and let things slide. I'll be changing my own passwords and habits TODAY!
Here are those important reminders again:
⚠️ Check your bank, credit card, and other financial accounts DAILY - yes, every single day! It's the best way to catch and stop suspicious activity.
⚠️ My relative's financial advisor told them to separate email functions from financial functions in the future: Use a separate computer or laptop ONLY for financial purposes and never log in to email or other communication accounts on that designated computer.
⚠️ Change your passwords frequently.
⚠️ Use passwords that don't relate to your personal info or identity.
⚠️ Be careful about opening emails, texts, or private messages from unsolicited sources, even from what looks like a legitimate account.
⚠️ Delete marketing communications without opening them.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking "That will never happen to me" - even the most intelligent people can become victims.
Stay safe out there!
© 2025 New Outlook Organizing
(This post was written by a human, not by AI.)