Identity Theft Prevention

The Latest Google Scam: How to Recognize a Phishing Attempt That Looks Real If you’ve received an email that appears to be from Google asking you to verify your account, reset a password, or review a security alert, you’re not alone. A new wave of phishing attempts is mimicking Google’s official communications so closely that even experienced users have been fooled. Reports from Reader’s Digest and other outlets have flagged this scam as particularly convincing. ...

Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips to Shop Safely and Protect Your Money Online shopping is convenient, but it also draws scammers. Each year, thousands of consumers lose money to fake websites, phishing emails, and deals that seem too good to be true. Government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), regularly publish guidance to help shoppers stay safe. While some of those articles focus on veterans, the advice applies to anyone buying goods online. ...

Don’t Tell Your AI Chatbot These 5 Things to Keep Your Money Safe AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot have become part of daily life for millions of people. They help draft emails, summarize articles, and answer questions. But their convenience hides a real financial risk: every piece of information you type into a chatbot could be stored, shared, or used against you. A recent column in The Washington Post highlighted five specific things you should never share with an AI chatbot if you want to keep your money safe. Here’s what you need to know. ...

Five Things You Should Never Tell an AI Chatbot to Keep Your Money Safe AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot have become go‑to tools for quick answers, help with writing, and even personal finance advice. They can simplify tasks, from drafting emails to summarizing investment options. But that convenience comes with a real privacy trade‑off. The conversations you have with these bots are often stored, sometimes reviewed by human trainers, and could be exposed in a data breach. Knowing what not to share is the first step to protecting your money and identity. ...

5 things you should never tell your AI chatbot (to protect your money and identity) AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot have become fixtures of daily life. They help us write emails, plan vacations, and even draft grocery lists. But as these tools handle more of our personal tasks, a quiet risk grows: we’re telling them things we should keep private. ...

Gift Card Scams: How They Work and How to Avoid Them In December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning residents about a surge in gift card scams. The announcement is a useful reminder for consumers everywhere because this type of fraud rarely respects state lines. Gift card scams have become one of the most frequently reported fraud types to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and they tend to spike around the holidays when many people are buying and using gift cards anyway. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Everywhere: How to Protect Yourself Introduction Gift cards are convenient presents, but they’ve also become a favorite payment method for scammers. Because they are nearly untraceable and can be spent quickly, fraudsters regularly pressure victims into buying them and handing over the codes. In December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert to warn residents about the persistence of gift card scams and to offer clear steps to avoid them. This article draws on that official guidance — along with broader federal data — to help you recognize the red flags and know what to do if you or someone you know is targeted. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Surging: How to Protect Yourself Now If you get a call, text, or email demanding payment by buying a gift card and reading off the numbers, stop. That is almost certainly a scam. No legitimate business, government agency, or even a distressed family member will ever ask you to pay with a gift card—and the Washington, D.C. Attorney General’s office just reminded residents why it’s critical to stay alert. ...

Lloyds Bank Warns Customers: New Scam Targets Your Account – Here’s What to Do If you bank with Lloyds, you may have heard that the bank issued an urgent alert on 24 April 2026 about a fresh wave of scams aimed at its customers. The warning, reported by several outlets including capitolskyline.com, flags specific fraud tactics that are currently circulating. This article explains what the alert covers, why it matters, and – most importantly – what you can do right now to protect your money and personal information. ...

Lloyds Bank Issues Urgent Scam Warning: Here’s How to Protect Yourself Lloyds Bank has updated its customer alert regarding a rise in fraud attempts targeting account holders. The alert, which has been covered by several news outlets, warns of increased phishing, vishing, and smishing attacks designed to steal login credentials, card details, and personal information. While the bank’s official announcement should be consulted for the most accurate details, the core message is clear: customers need to be more vigilant than ever. ...