Scammers are getting smarter. Here are their most common tricks

Recent Federal Trade Commission data shows American consumers lost more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023 — the highest total ever recorded. “These deepfake scams can convincingly mimic voices and appearances, deceiving victims into transferring money or divulging sensitive information,” said Pete Nicoletti, Check Point's global chief information security officer for the Americas. “Once trust has been established, the bad actor claims to need money and coerces the victim to send funds.” Reported losses to romance scams totaled $1.14 billion in 2023, with the median losses per person being $2,000 According to the FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book, reported losses to romance scams totaled $1.14 billion in 2023, with the median losses per person being $2,000 — the highest reported losses for any form of imposter scam. “If you get an email or text claiming there's an urgent issue with your bank account, a package delivery, a prize you’ve won or a service you use, don’t click on any links,” Nicoletti said. Ways to boost your online security Nicoletti also recommends taking the following steps to strengthen your online protection: Set up alerts on your accounts to notify you of changes Visit HaveIBeenPwned.com to see if your email or passwords have been leaked in a data breach Install antivirus software like ZoneAlarm and scan your devices routinely Use a VPN when browsing online to keep your connection private Change the default password on your home router and make sure your Wi-Fi uses a strong password Never provide sensitive information like Social Security numbers or banking details over email, text or social media messages Use fingerprint, PIN or facial recognition on your mobile devices Use incognito mode when browsing sensitive sites Enable pop-up blockers to prevent malicious ads from appearing Avoid storing passwords directly in your browser Falling victim to financial fraud can be extremely devastating because it undoes years of your hard work and savings in an instant.