April is Financial Literacy Month—Here’s How to Protect Yourself from Online Financial Scams

April is also known as “Financial Literacy Month,” a time dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of managing personal finances wisely. While most people understand the value of budgeting and saving, fewer know how to protect themselves from online financial scams that can instantly deplete hard-earned savings. As cybercriminals become savvier and continue to evolve their tactics, consumers must remain informed and proactive.

Now let’s walk through some of the most common online scams as well as the steps you can take to protect your finances.

Common Online Financial Scams

1. Phishing Emails and Texts: Fraudsters may pose as legitimate institutions (banks, retailers, etc.) to trick targets into handing over credit card information, login credentials for financial accounts, or other sensitive financial information. They use urgent language and scare tactics to panic victims into handing over this type of information.

Related:

Phishing Scams: How to Identify and Avoid Them

‘Wrong number’ text scams and how to protect against them

Text scams: Why you shouldn’t answer ‘Hi, How Are You?’ text messages from strangers

2. Tech Support Scams: Scammers impersonate tech support from well-known companies. They claim devices are infected or at risk, then ask for remote access or fees to “fix” a non-existent problem.

Related: How To Spot and Avoid Tech Support Scams

3. Investment Scams: This type of fraudulent scheme is often accompanied by “too-good-to-be-true” offers, promising high and guaranteed returns with little-to-no risk. Ponzi schemes and crypto-related scams often fall under this category.
4. Romance and Social Media Scams: Scammers create fake social media or dating profiles to gain their targets’ trust, then request money. They often play on victims’ emotions to get them to send funds or personal information.

Related articles:

How to identify military romance scams. Are you a potential target?

Love and Lies: The Tinder Swindler’s Ayleen Charlotte talks to Bitdefender about Romance Scams (Part 1)

Love and Lies: The Tinder Swindler’s Ayleen Charlotte talks to Bitdefender about Romance Scams (Part 2)

5. Impersonation Scams: Scammers pretend to be government agents (IRS, for example) or well-known companies and businesses you know and trust. They intimidate victims into paying “fines” or fees to avoid legal trouble.

Related: Imposter Scams On The Rise: How to Protect Yourself

How to Identify (and Avoid) Financial Scams

• Check the Sender’s Details: Always verify email addresses, website URLs, and phone numbers. Scammers often use slight misspellings to appear legitimate (e.g., “@rnail.com” instead of “@gmail.com”).
• Slow Down and Question Urgency: Scammers rely on pressure and fear. If an offer or warning appears out of the blue and urges you to act quickly, take a step back and verify the claims.
• Use Secure Payment Methods: Avoid direct wire transfers or gift card payments—these are favorites of scammers because they’re nearly impossible to trace.
• Enable Additional Forms of Authentication: You can strengthen account security by requiring a second (2FA) or multiple forms of verification (MFA), such as a code sent via text, email or authentication app.
• Stay Savvy and Educate Yourself & Your Family: Regularly review scam tactics with family members, especially older relatives who tend to be prime targets.

PRO TIP: Harness Free and Budget-Friendly Cybersecurity Tools

 Cybersecurity tools and solutions don’t have to break your budget. Bitdefender offers a wide range of trusted security and anti-scam solutions that can protect you and your family:

• Bitdefender Scamio: A FREE and user-friendly scam detector tool powered by AI. It helps you identify red flags in any texts, online proposals, or emails before you accidentally share personal or financial information. You can harness the power of Scamio 24/7 on your browser, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Discord. It’s easy to use and there’s nothing to install. Just ask Scamio a question, describe a situation or send it a suspicious QR code or link to get a verdict in seconds.
• Bitdefender Link Checker: With this FREE tool, you can instantly check URLs you encounter or receive on social media, email or instant messaging apps. It flags potentially harmful sites before you click, allowing you to avoid phishing traps.
• Explore Bitdefender’s Budget-Friendly Suites to safeguard your personal finances and devices with advanced protection. For more robust, all-in-one protection, Bitdefender also offers budget-friendly premium suites with built-in VPN, ransomware, and malware protection, as well as enhanced privacy tools. These can further protect your personal and financial data on all your devices.

Empower Yourself This Financial Literacy Month

Financial literacy isn’t just about knowing how to save, budget, or invest. It’s also about protecting what you already have from cybercriminals. Here’s how to take action right now:

1. Review Your Financial Accounts:  Monitor your bank and credit card statements for unusual charges or activities. Consider setting up account alerts that notify you of large transactions.
2. Strengthen Your Passwords: Use a unique, complex password for each online account. A reputable password manager can help keep your information organized and secure.
3. Stay Informed: Visit trustworthy security blogs, sign up for cybersecurity newsletters, and follow official consumer protection agencies on social media. The more you know, the easier it is to spot the latest scam tactics.
4. Share the Knowledge: Encourage friends and family to use free scam detection tools. Host or attend online workshops or webinars during April to amplify your financial literacy journey.

As you take steps this Financial Literacy Month to build better money habits, don’t overlook cyber-protection. Protect your peace of mind and your wallet by staying informed, staying alert, and using the right tools.