Episode•December 19, 2019•15 min

Fraud Alert! How to Protect Yourself | Ep. 22

There are so many ways scammers can get your information. Listen as Tiffany breaks down ways she protects herself against fraud especially during the holiday season. Links Visit Tiff's website: https://www.moneytalkwitht.com Want to catch Money Talk with Tiff live? There are three events coming up in the Greensboro, NC area! Please visit https://www.moneytalkwitht.com/events.html for more information. Connect with Tiffany on Social Media Facebook: Money Talk With Tiff Twitter: @moneytalkwitht Instagram: @moneytalkwitht LinkedIn: Tiffany Grant YouTube: Money Talk With Tiff Channel Pinterest: Money Talk With Tiff This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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Key Takeaways

1
Shred all mail containing personal information as your first line of defense against dumpster-diving fraudsters
Any mail with your name and address should be shredded immediately
Look for community shredding events if you don't have a shredder at home
2
Freeze your credit report to prevent unauthorized new accounts and deter impulse purchases
Credit freeze blocks fraudsters from opening new credit lines in your name
The freeze also prevents you from making split-second credit decisions in stores
Tiffany's credit has been frozen for about two years since buying her house
3
Never use debit cards at gas pumps—always use credit to avoid PIN theft
Scammers install devices on pumps to capture PIN numbers
Even debit cards with Visa/MasterCard logos can be run as credit for protection
Credit transactions have built-in safeguards that debit transactions lack
4
Avoid entering sweepstakes and work-from-home opportunities that request your Social Security number
Sweepstakes entries often lead to robocalls and data sharing with scammers
Vetting work-from-home opportunities thoroughly is essential before sharing SSN
ratracerebellion.com is recommended as a resource for legitimate remote work
5
Be extremely cautious with public Wi-Fi and social media sharing to protect sensitive data
Avoid entering credit cards, SSNs, or sensitive info on public networks
Never share phone numbers, addresses, or payment information publicly online
Verify email sender addresses carefully—scammers spoof legitimate companies like Apple

Intro

Tiffany Grant hosts a solo episode focused on fraud protection strategies, motivated by her recent attendance at a workshop on financial exploitation of seniors.
Tiffany Grant is the host of Money Talk with Tiff, a podcast about personal finance, debt freedom, and money management tips.

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– Opening and Motivation

Tiffany introduces the solo episode, explaining she attended an all-day workshop on financial exploitation of seniors which motivated her to share fraud protection tips.

– Shred Everything with Personal Info

Any piece of mail that comes to my house gets shredded. If it has my name, my address, which is everything, it gets shredded.
– Tiffany Grant

She recommends looking for community shredding events if you don't own a shredder.

– Freeze Your Credit Report

Freeze your credit report. Like if you are done buying houses, buying cars, you know, at least for the time being, applying for new credit, freeze your credit report.
– Tiffany Grant

Tiffany shares how a frozen credit report stopped her from making an impulse internet service purchase at Walmart, giving her time to reconsider.

– Handling Scam Calls and Robo-Callers

Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. If you do answer, don't say 'yes' or confirm you can hear them—scammers record this for fraudulent use. Government agencies like the IRS don't call; they send letters (though fraudsters are now mimicking these too).

– Gas Pump Safety: Credit Over Debit

At the pump, I never do debit... I always do credit at the pump. And it's always best to use credit whenever possible because it has safeguards for you.
– Tiffany Grant

– Avoid Sweepstakes and Sketchy Work-from-Home Offers

Entering sweepstakes leads to data sharing with scammers. Work-from-home opportunities requesting your SSN should be thoroughly vetted; ratracerebellion.com is recommended for legitimate remote jobs.

– Public Wi-Fi and Social Media Risks

Avoid entering sensitive information on public Wi-Fi. Be careful what you share online—never post phone numbers, addresses, or payment info. Verify email sender addresses, as scammers spoof legitimate companies like Apple.

– Go Paperless for Security

Electronic statements and payments are generally more secure than paper mail, which can be intercepted from mailboxes or dumpsters. However, stay alert for data breaches like Equifax.

Resources

Topics

fraud protectioncredit freezescam callsidentity theftpersonal financecybersecurity social media privacygas pump fraudsweepstakes scamspaperless billing