How to avoid losing money to fraud

Listen or read the news for a short time and you will notice that money gets people into trouble; or rather people get into trouble because of money. People misuse money themselves, or trick or force someone else into making bad money decisions.

If a message like this one shows up on your phone, ignore it, report it, and DELETE it-don’t click on it. This is an actual message I received; I erased the link URL because I don’t want anyone who reads this post to try clicking on it just to see what happens. That’s what scammers want you to do.

And how do I know it’s fake? For one thing, Amazon doesn’t send messages like this, nor does any other legitimate business. Also, “recovery” is not a verb, and links don’t “bellow”; did they mean “below”?

If you ever question if a message or email is legit, call the business, or go to their validated website. Even them, don’t release your personal info until you are absolutely sure.

Fraud, cheating, stealing, scamming, hacking, counterfeiting, embezzlement, blackmail- people are endlessly creative when it comes to using and abusing money . Even the Bible connects money with evil.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. “

1 Timothy 6:6-10, NIV

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Advice from the Federal Trade Commission

spot a scam

• Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know.
• Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE.
•  Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately.
• Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.

avoid a scam

• Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect.
• Block unwanted calls and text messages. 
• Resist the pressure to act immediately. 
• Know how scammers tell you to pay. 
• Stop and talk to someone you trust.  

exploring the HEART of financial health

Thanks for reading and sharing this post, information we all can use; it only takes a moment of carelessness to create hours of financial hardship. Sign up to follow this blog for more information and inspiration to live safely and healthily.