RULE # 1 Don’t be afraid to say NO!

• Say NO, hang up, and get some advice.
• Say NO until you have received all information in writing.
• Say NO and explain that you would like to speak to a lawyer of your choice before agreeing to pay government “fines” or “fees.”
• Never be bullied into agreeing with the caller without further information and don’t provide further information to them.

RULE # 2 If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is

•  If the person contacting you is offering you an easy way out of a fine or fee, or is offering something that is too good to be true… it probably is. If you have doubt contact a friend a family member or your local police for advice.
• Always verify that the organization you’re dealing with is legitimate before you take any other action

RULE # 3 Do your research

• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Only log into your accounts from trusted sources
• Don’t reveal personal information over social media
• ENSURE YOU ARE USING THE HIGHEST SECURITY SETTINGS WHEN USING SOCIAL MEDIA

RULE # 4 Don’t give out your personal information

• Beware of unsolicited calls where the caller asks you for personal information

RULE # 5 Beware of upfront fees

• Many scams request that you pay fees in advance of receiving goods or a prize. They may even pressure you into making a payment as quickly as possible to solve a legal problem or hold an item. If someone is asking you for upfront payments this should immediately raise a RED FLAG for you.

RULE # 6 Protect your computer

• Watch out for urgent-looking messages that pop up while you’re browsing online. Don’t click on them or call the number they provide
• No legitimate company will call and claim your computer is infected with a virus
•  Make sure you have anti-virus software installed and keep your operating system up to date
• Never give anyone remote access to your computer. If you are having problems with your system, bring it to a local technician

RULE # 7 Protect your online accounts

• Create a strong password by:
• Using a minimum of 8 characters including upper and lower case letters, and at least 1 number and a symbol
• Creating unique passwords for every online account including social networks, emails, financial and other accounts
• Using a combination of passphrases that are easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess