Protect Your Inbox: How to Avoid Email and Text Scams
From The Observatory
In today’s digital world, protecting your personal information is more important than ever. Scammers use email and text messages to steal sensitive data, from bank statements to medical records. In 2024, U.S. consumers lost $12.5 billion to fraud, much of it from online scams and phishing attacks. While young adults are more likely to fall for scams, older adults often lose larger amounts of money. Common scams include fake investment offers, cryptocurrency fraud, and bogus job postings.
Your messages are not always as private as they seem. Public Wi-Fi networks, misleading emails, and text messages can all put your personal information at risk. Phishing attacks—emails or texts that look real but are actually designed to trick you—are the most common type of cybercrime. They can install malware on your devices or steal passwords. Scammers often use urgency or vague language to make you act quickly, and even small mistakes, like sending a file to the wrong email address, can have big consequences.
The good news is that you can protect yourself without being a tech expert. Password-protect sensitive files, use secure cloud links instead of attachments, and choose privacy-focused email services like ProtonMail or iCloud Mail. Keep your devices updated, use strong passwords, and enable two-factor authentication. Before sending sensitive information, double-check the recipient and verify anything that seems suspicious.
If your accounts are hacked, act quickly: change passwords, alert your contacts, and monitor your accounts for unusual activity. Real-world examples show that taking these precautions—using encryption, secure cloud sharing, and privacy-focused services—can prevent major losses and safeguard your data. By following simple, consistent steps, you can stay safe in a world where scammers are constantly evolving and make your personal information much harder to steal.
🔭 This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.
