Committed to protecting your data – now and always

It’s tax season and scammers are using this time to impersonate the IRS to steal your money or personal information. It is important to familiarize yourself with typical scam tactics, prevention techniques, and what to do if you believe you or someone you know has been impacted. Their schemes can start with a call, text, email, or even a social media message. Often, scammers use spoofing to make their calls look like a legitimate IRS phone number. They will try to convince you that you owe back taxes or there’s a problem with your tax return. Scammers play on your fears and try to convince you to rectify the problem by paying immediately…and if you don’t, will threaten you with jail or large monetary penalties. They might even use the opportunity to convince you to share your personal information. The IRS will always begin communication with an official letter in the mail…never a call, text, email or social media message. Additionally, the IRS will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards, money transfers, or cryptocurrency. You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to verify the legitimacy of any IRS related communications you receive. If you receive an unsolicited communication from a scammer do not respond. Instead, visit the IRS website for information on how to make a report.  Also, consider reporting to the Federal Trade Commission, and lastly, for more information on how to protect yourself, visit the TIAA Security Center at TIAA.org/security.

It happens to all of us and if it hasn't happened to you, it eventually will. You receive a phone call, text, or email you weren't expecting, but the contents make you pause and pay attention. The message you receive makes your heart race or you might wonder if you're in trouble. The message seems urgent, and wants your attention and action immediately. It seems bizarre, but the message is convincing you that you should act and fast. You're not alone with these types of messages. These are all common traits of scams. Scammers use common tactics no matter what the scam is. Scams utilize common tactics such as a sense of urgency. The message, whether email, text, or phone will convince you that you must act and rectify a situation or take advantage of some benefit. With the sense of urgency, tactics might also be used. This could include convincing you that something has happened to a loved one or that you must send money right away. The sender, a caller might request payment in unusual payment methods such as gift cards or tell you that you've been overpaid for a product or service and must return the extra amount. If you receive a phone call, text, or email with any of these common trades, hang up, delete, or ignore the message altogether. Someone is trying to scam you. Remember, being informed and vigilant is the best way to avoid scams. Stay safe and never give into these fraudulent schemes. If you are the recipient of a scam attempt you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Visit the TIAA Security Center for more resources on how to protect yourself and your accounts.

Avoiding Government Authority Scams
Scammers are calling individuals pretending to be government officials from agencies such as the FBI, IRS, or SSA
Scammers will call, text, or email
You may also receive a spoofed phone call that appears to be from the government agency
The scammer may say you owe back taxes, have an outstanding warrant, or have a problem with benifits
They may threaten you with jail, penalties, or the loss of benefits
Here are some things you should know to protect yourself from these scams
Things you should know
Legitimate government agencies will always initiate contact by mail
Government agencies will never ask you to pay with gift cards, money transfers, or cryptocurrencies
Contact the government agency using an official published number to verify if there is an issue.
Report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission.  For more information on how to protect yourself online, visit tiara.org/security
TIAA

Red Flags of Romance Scams
As the online nation user base continues to rise, so do the chances of someone falling victim to a romance scam
In 2022, over 19,000 people reported being victim to romance scams and the losses hit a staggering $736 million
Here is how to identify a romance scam
Spotting romance scams
They provide countless excuses on why they can’t meet you in person
They ask for money for emergencies or some type of trouble they are in
They want money in the form of gift cards, money transfer, or cryptocurrency
What should you do if you or others become involved in a Romance Scam?
Actions you can take
Talk to a trusted family member or friend about new online love interests and pay attention if they seem concerned
A legitimate love interest will not ask for help in the form of gift cards, money transfer, or cryptocurrency
Do a reverse image search of any profile pictures immediately
If the details and pictures don’t match up or make sense, it could be a scam and you should discontinue contact
You can report romance scams to the Federal Trade Commission.  To learn more about protecting yourself while online, visit tiaa.org/sercurity
TIAA

Avoiding Tech Support Scams
A common scam you might experience is the tech support scam
Tech Support Scams
The scam may start with a pop-up message indicating a problem requiring technical support
Alternatively, you may receive a phone call, email, or text indicating a similar scenario
Scammers may convince you to install software enabling remote access to your computer
Scammers will try to convince you to send them money
Here are some thing you should know to protect yourself from these scams
Things you should know
Legitimate tech companies will never contact you by phone, email, or text to tell you there is a problem with your device
Always be suspicious of urgent pop-up warnings
If concerned, call the company directly using the number listed on the official website.
Legitimate tech companies will never ask for payment methods like gift cards, money transfers, or cryptocurrencies
What should you do if you think you are a victim of a tech support scam?
What should you do?
Run updated anti-virus software immediately
Contact your financial insinuation to stop any payments you might have made
Update your passwords for your online accounts
Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission.  For more information on how to protect yourself online, visit tiaa.org/security

- [Voiceover] Are you concerned about the performance of your computer? Maybe you've noticed a sudden change in its speed or more popups. These could be signs your computer is infected with malware. Malware is software used to disrupt a computer, server, or network. It is one of the biggest threats to the security of your devices. Malware includes viruses, spyware, ransomware, and other unwanted software that gets secretly installed onto your device. Malware is installed in several ways. These include infected removable media, like USB thumb drives, internet downloads, clicking on suspicious links and attachments. Cyber criminals use malware to steal sensitive information, gain unauthorized access to files, and interfere with device privacy and safety. They may also be able to gain access to your financial accounts and ultimately steal your money. In addition to performance changes and popups, other signs of malware include repeated, unusual error messages, your device won't shut down or restart, unexpected low battery life and the inability to remove software. What should you do if you suspect your device is infected with malware? One, download a reputable anti-malware software and get offline immediately. Two, stop any shopping, banking, or other online activities that involve usernames, passwords, or other sensitive information. Three, back up any critical files. Be aware of the dangers of malware. Protect your personal information as well as your financial security. Help stay protected by making sure you are up to date on all your anti-virus and anti-malware software. For more information, visit the TIAA Security Center at tiaa.org/security.