Brexit Protection - click here

   Brexit Protection... or should we call it Brexitection? :-)

   How does Brexit affect your finances?  Do you care?  Plenty of people do.

   And that creates an opportunity for scammers.

   Any time there are major news events, particularly disasters or anything economic, people get worried. and the scammers are right there to play on those fears.

   According to the Telegraph, they have seen emails with subjects such as "Brexit causes historic market drop". These emails have links that supposedly connect to pages with information on how to protect your investments.  Of course, they actually download malware to the victims computer.

   This is a common problem... common because it works.

   We've covered this topic before... and the advice remains the same.  In fact, here are my top 10 email scam tips from a 2013 post!  These are just as relevant today as then.  And they will be relevant years from now:

1. Don't respond to unsolicited email.  It just lets the spammer know you are a live person.
2. Use care with links in unsolicited email.  There's a good chance that link leads somewhere you don't want to go... like a phishing site or a malware download.
3. Watch out for attachments... even pictures.  Stop and think before you click on that attachment.  Even if it looks like it came from a friend.  Were you expecting the email and attachment?
4. Be stingy with your personal information.  Much of what happens in today's world happens online.  And you will have to provide some information sometimes.  But every site doesn't need all your personal information.  And just because a site asks for information doesn't mean you have to provide it.  Before you fill out that form, stop and think, then decide how much information you want to provide.
5. Compare the link to the site you're directed to.  You're going to click on some links.  You probably clicked on a link to get to this blog post!  But stop and think.  Look at the link.  Mouse-over the link.  Does it make sense.  And, after you click, does it take to the site you thought it would?  If not, close that browser tab.
6. Use the "official" website rather than clicking on the link.  You can always type in a known website address, for example to your bank or a shopping site, rather than clicking on a link.  Or, if you use a password vault then use the link you have stored in your vault.
7. Check for the use of https and look for the lock symbol before entering financial or personal information.
8. Watch you bills and accounts.  That way you can catch any unusual or potentially fraudulent transactions early and get them straightened out.
9. Get social media savvy.  Bad links don't only come from email.  Social media sites are used by scammers to pass dangerous links and malware.  Remember, your "friend" is not necessarily your friend.
10. If you get new tech, then get security!  Some of you might buy a new laptop, tablet or smartphone during the holiday season.  Get security software and install it!  Configure automatic security updates!

   Here's some more info from the US Federal Trade Commission and USA.gov.

   Have you seen any Brexit related email scams?