- Assign power of attorney, or any other authority over your finances, only to someone you know well.
- Any unsolicited online offers or calls to fix your computer are fraudulent. If you didn’t initiate the conversation, don’t agree to update your account or share confidential information.
- Research businesses through the Better Business Bureau; for charities, visit guidestar.org. Never donate cash. If you’re paying a business in cash, always get a receipt, and don’t pay in full until the work is done.
- Be wary of high-paying employment, real estate or investment opportunities that don’t require experience. Avoid requests to pay upfront for equipment or training, or any sort of maintenance or transaction fee.
- Use caution with callers who say they’re from a government agency. The Social Security Administration (SSA) or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will never call you to ask for money. Even if the caller ID looks legitimate, it’s likely a scam.
- Review your Edward Jones accounts on a regular basis. You can do this anytime through Online Access or your Edward Jones mobile app.
- Promptly read any mail you receive from financial institutions. Be sure your statements arrive as expected and review them regularly for unusual activity.
- Periodically inspect your credit report. For more information, visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877-322-8228.
- Freeze your credit to prevent a thief from opening a credit account in your name. Visit consumer.ftc.gov for more information.
- Take advantage of alert services, which can notify you about suspicious activity or transactions. Text and email alerts are available for your Edward Jones accounts through Online Access or the Edward Jones mobile app. To set them up, visit Settings under the More menu.
- When ordering from a business for the first time, use a credit card with fraud protection if possible. Cash, gift cards and cryptocurrency payments are generally untraceable and unprotected. Using a personal check or wire transfer can expose your bank account information to fraudsters.
- Limit who has your personally identifiable information (PII), especially your Social Security number. Don’t carry it in your wallet or purse unless it’s necessary.
- Install apps from reputable companies with a track record in security. With mobile devices, always download through your provider’s app store. Make sure your computer, phone and tablet all have antivirus protection.
- Update your operating system when prompted. Enable automatic updates of other apps and schedule automated virus scans.
- Use different passwords for each online account. A password manager (such as LastPass or Dashlane) can help you track your passwords. Do not write them down.
- Use multifactor authentication, such as fingerprint or face recognition, or a code you receive by text. This confirms your identity each time you log in. We do not recommend selecting “trust this device.” It’s particularly helpful for critical sites such as your email provider and financial accounts.
- Never share your login information with another person, no matter who they claim to be. This includes usernames, passwords, authentication codes and security tokens.
- Back up your data regularly using a backup service, cloud storage or an external hard drive to protect against potential data loss. Try to avoid logging in to secure sites from shared computers or public Wi-Fi networks. If you use public Wi-Fi often, consider installing a virtual private network (VPN) on your device.
- Review the privacy settings for all your social media accounts. Minimize the information you make public, and turn on settings that require you to verify new friends or connections.
- Be wary of unexpected email or text messages, especially if they want you to act urgently. If you’re asked to fix a problem related to a company’s service, go directly to the company’s website instead of following a link. If the message appears to be from a friend or relative, call that person to confirm the message. Don’t open any attachments unless you’ve confirmed their source.
