BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM – AUGUST 11: In this photo illustration a woman uses a credit card to buy something online on August 11, 2014 in Bristol, United Kingdom. This week marks the 20th anniversary of the first online sale. Since that sale – a copy of an album by the artist Sting – online retailing has grown to such an extent that it is now claimed that 95 percent of the UK population has shopped online and close to one in four deciding to shop online each week. (Photo Illustration by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
SEATTLE —As Cybersecurity Awareness Month gets underway in October, new Better Business Bureau data shows Washington residents are continuing to lose significant money to scams designed to steal account access, money, and personal information.
Cameron Nakashima of the Better Business Bureau said the BBB has received reports in Washington of online purchasing scams totaling about $1.9 million in losses.
In addition, the BBB has seen about 1,500 phishing and identity theft reports, with losses from those exceeding $1.1 million.
Nakashima said these schemes can start in different ways but often share the same goal: gaining access to a person’s accounts, identity documents, and money.
He said most scammers don’t break through sophisticated computer systems or hack phone security features. Instead, in most cases, the fraudster convinces someone to hand over information or account access.
Phishing is a major driver of those scams, he said, with scammers often pretending to be a trusted log in, or share information before verifying who they are dealing with
That can include a fake bank text asking someone to click a link, a fraudulent shopping website requesting payment information, or an email claiming there is a problem with an account.
Once a scammer has a password, payment information, or other personal details, Nakashima said, that information can be used to escalate into account theft or identity theft.
Nakashima recommended three steps people can take right now to strengthen their digital defenses.
First, he said, strengthen passwords and turn on multifactor authentication.
He advised using a strong, unique password for every important account and noted that multifactor authentication adds another layer of protection if a password is stolen.
A password manager can help people keep track of passwords.
Second, he said, monitor financial identity by checking bank and credit accounts for activity that is not recognized.
For people who are not planning to apply for new credit soon, he suggested considering a credit freeze to help prevent new accounts from being opened in their name.
Third, he said, practice good cybersecurity habits. If an unexpected message asks for money, passwords, verification codes, or personal information, he advised slowing down and verifying the request another way.
He also suggested using BBB.org to confirm a business is legitimate and to look for known impostor scams.
The Better Business Bureau said more free resources are available at BBB.org to help people stay safer and make better choices about which businesses they trust with their money and information.
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