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Paragon Solutions Spotlight: Stay Alert this Holiday Season! Protect your Finances from Scammers

12-11-23

This is part of a new series – Paragon Solutions Spotlight. Read previous posts here and here. These articles will discuss topics designed to help, educate and inform you. Today’s featured article address cell phone security. We thank our SVP, Information Technology and Deposit Operations, Kingston Blenis, for sharing his expertise today.

As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of giving is in the air, but so are the scams! Don’t let fraudsters ruin your festive cheer. Here are some top scams to watch out for and keep your money safe:

• Phishing Scams — Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts, or calls claiming to be from your bank. Always verify the source before sharing any personal or financial information. One tip is to click or tap on the “From:” address and verify that the domain name matches the name you would expect from this sender. All emails from Paragon Bank will have an @minnwestonline.com domain name.
• Fake Gift Cards — Scammers offer tempting gift card deals online or via social media. Verify the legitimacy of offers before making a purchase. Always buy gift cards directly from the merchant or a reputable retailer.
• Charity Scams — Don’t let your generosity be taken advantage of. Verify the legitimacy of any charity before making a donation.
• Online Shopping Scams — Shop from reputable websites and avoid unbelievable discounts or too-good-to-be-true deals.
• Delivery Scams — Be cautious of unsolicited delivery notifications. Verify the source before clicking on any links.

Protect yourself with these tips:

• Check website URLs for “https://” and a padlock symbol to ensure secure browsing.
• Verify calls by contacting your bank using the official phone number from their website.
• Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown sources.
• Regularly monitor your bank statements for any unusual activity.

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