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Reading about account takeover fraud changed how I handle text alerts
I used to ignore those bank text alerts because they felt spammy. Then last week I read a post from a security guy about how a customer lost $3,000 because they dismissed a login notification as junk. He said the alert was the only clue, and waiting 20 minutes to check the app made it too late. That example hit me because I do the exact same thing with my debit card at gas stations. Now I actually open every alert and verify the location or amount right away. Has anyone else gotten burned by ignoring an alert until it was a problem?
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emma_mitchell17d ago
Something the original post didn't mention is that the alert itself can be the trap. Scammers have gotten really good at sending fake text alerts that look exactly like your bank, and they WANT you to click the link in a panic. The real move is to never trust the link in the text, even if it looks legit. Open your bank app on your own or call the number on the back of your card instead. A real alert from your bank should also show up inside your app, so check there first. That way you're verifying without handing your login to some random page.
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