The world is a beautiful place, but we can’t kid ourselves: It’s a dangerous place, too. While you might have your heart in the right place, that’s just not true of everyone else, and you can’t know for sure which people you meet might be con artists or creeps — at least, not until it’s too late. Similarly, we can’t know when and where strangers will try to rob us of our possessions, our financial security, or even our lives. All we can do is be careful — and take important steps to protect ourselves.
You don’t have to live in fear and paranoia. In fact, you shouldn’t. But you can maintain peace of mind by taking careful, common-sense security measures and protecting the things that matter most to you.
Protecting your home
Home security systems aren’t always cheap, but they’re almost always worth the money. Consider your security system an investment in the things that you already own and love. Without security protections, it’s too easy for crooks to break into your home and make off with valuables without being caught. A security system is a powerful deterrent. Crooks are not, by nature, hard workers or brave people. They’re not interested in robbing homes that are difficult to rob. If you have a security system, you’ll encourage crooks to try their luck somewhere else.
Happily, modern wireless security systems use smart home technology and are easier than ever to install and use. You can even find some affordable options. In other words, you have no excuse not to protect your home.
Is this person who they say they are?
Con artists and crooks have always walked among us. But in our modern world, they can slip through society more easily than ever. Thanks to the advent of online dating and other app-assisted meetups, we’re constantly meeting strangers who we don’t really know anything about.
Be careful. Never meet a date somewhere hidden or private before you know who the person really is. And don’t assume that you can trust people to tell you the truth about their past, either. It’s a good idea to make use of a background check service to find any police records or other potentially troubling information about a romantic partner. There’s nothing wrong with being careful, and you’ll be able to trust and relax more easily if you know the facts.
Best practices and common sense
You can fortify your home with a security system and check out the backgrounds of people you need to be able to trust, but crooks still have one easy way to rob you: They can get you to give up your secrets and goods yourself.
It sounds absurd, but this is precisely how many modern scams work. Sometimes it’s a person on the phone pretending to be a relative — or the IRS. Other times, it’s an email that looks like it’s from your bank — but really isn’t. Scammers love to make off with money because we fork over private information such as our passwords, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or even birthdays.
To protect yourself, simply remember to never give your private information away in a nonsecure way. Always be skeptical of people and organizations that are calling or emailing you asking for this sort of information. Browse with a VPN when you can, and use an anti-virus program to protect your computer and other connected devices. Learn the warning signs of scams and phishing expeditions, and stay alert. If you develop good habits, you’ll be a lot safer.
