Busy week so just these two articles:

• October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

• Debt relief scams

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Each October you probably receive emails from your financial institutions providing you with great tips on how to stay cyber safe.

I'd love to take this opportunity to highlight some of my previous articles that you might have missed. If these don't resonate with you, I have a complete list of all of my articles here.

Here are 3 things to focus on this month:

1. Don’t Fall for Fake “Hello” Messages
   Scammers love to hook you with something simple. Revisit “Hello” texts are not from your friends! (Apr 19, 2025) to see how a quick reply can open the door to fraud and learn the signs before you get drawn in.

2. Check Your Phone Passcode
   Is your phone lock screen really secure? Many people still use short or easy-to-guess codes. Take another look at Phone passcodes – is yours easy to guess? (May 4, 2025) and upgrade to something that keeps snoops out.

3. Watch for Travel Website Scams
   Holiday season is around the corner, and scammers know it. Re-read Travel website scams (June 2, 2025) to learn how fake booking sites trick travelers — and how to make sure your next trip starts safe.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to take one simple step each week toward better protection. Re-read these posts, put the tips into action, and share them with family and friends who could use a reminder.

Debt relief scams

When I was 20 years old I moved back home with a mountain of debt. ($7,000 in the late 1980s was a lot.) Thankfully my parents paid off my credit cards and I paid my parents back a couple of decades later.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have someone that can help. Instead, someone may search the internet for "debt relief" or "how to file bankruptcy".

Unfortunately, scammers know this too and they love to prey on people when they’re most stressed.

A typical debt relief scam starts with a call, email, or flashy ad promising to wipe away your debt or drastically lower your payments. The catch? They ask for upfront fees or personal information before doing anything. Once you’ve paid or shared your details, the so-called “company” disappears, leaving you in even worse shape.

Real debt relief doesn’t come from secret programs or overnight fixes. Legitimate organizations, such affiliates with the non-profit National Foundation for Credit Counseling (https://nfcc.org), may help negotiate lower interest rates or set up payment plans, but they don’t demand huge upfront fees. The fees should be minimal as noted in this article on consumer advocate Clark Howard's website. NFCC affiliates also won’t pressure you to sign up right away or guarantee results that sound too good to be true.

If you’re considering debt help, do your homework. Check whether the company is registered with your state, look for complaints online, and never share your Social Security number or bank details without verifying who you’re dealing with.

Remember: financial struggles are tough enough. Don’t let a scammer add insult to injury by turning your search for relief into a deeper trap.

Do you have an idea for a future newsletter? Please reply to this email and let me know.

Thank you so much!

Sincerely,
Cassie Crossley
Founder, Cyber Safe Center
https://www.cybersafecenter.com