 TITLE: Coronavirus Vaccine Scams to Watch Out For CONTENT: Additional Ways to Avoid Scams and Identity Theft\n-------------------------------------------------\nWhile coronavirus and vaccine scams may make headlines right now, that doesn't mean other types of scams have ceased. Fortunately, a few basic practices can offer protection against many common scams and identity theft attempts.\n*   **Verify before trusting.** Scammers can \"spoof\" phone numbers and email addresses to make it look like a call or message is coming from a trusted source. If you're unsure, it's always best to look up the contact information for the organization the person claims to represent and initiate a call or message yourself.\n*   **Don't share personal information.** Most organizations will never ask for your personal information over the phone, on social media or by text message.\n*   **Ignore robocalls.** The never-ending robocalls are certainly annoying, and it's better to ignore them rather than respond to a message. Don't press a number on your phone or respond to messages; just hang up.\n*   **Be cautious when you're asked for a specific type of payment.** Scammers who are after your money rather than your personal information may ask that you send them money by wire transfer, money order or gift card.\n*   **Don't carry important personal information with you.** Keep your Social Security card, birth certificate and passport secure and at home, and make sure your phone automatically locks.\n*   **Safeguard your credit.** If you worry your identity has been compromised, adding a credit freeze or lock or a fraud alert to your credit reports can help keep identity thieves from opening a new account in your name.\n*   **Secure your online accounts.** Using a unique password for each online account can keep one data breach from impacting all your accounts. You can use a password manager to create and store strong passwords for your accounts.\nMonitor and Protect Your Identity\n---------------------------------\nAvoiding scams is always best, since if you do fall victim and wind up sending someone money or purchasing a fake vaccine, you likely won't be able to recoup your costs. Additionally, you want to beware of thieves getting your personal and medical information, some of which may already be compromised due to a company's data breach.\nMonitoring your credit for an unexpected change, such as a new account you didn't open, can give you a headstart to shutting down identity theft if it happens. Signing up for free Experian credit report monitoring can help. More robust identity theft protection services, such as Experian IdentityWorksSM, may require a subscription. However, they often come with wider-reaching monitoring and insurance protections that can save you time and money if your identity is compromised. END