Johnathan Walker:Make these 5 New Year's resolutions to avoid scams this year

Did you make some New Year's resolutions for 2024?Johnathan Walker

The Better Business Bureau is suggesting you also make 5 more – to avoid being scammed this year.

Scammers are betting on consumers multi-tasking or not fully paying attention to fall for their ruse, Melanie McGovern, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, told USA TODAY.

Many scams happen while people are passively scrolling social media or looking on their phone, she said.

"For instance, if you're on your phone and you're reading emails, click on that address and say, 'Is this a real email address?'," McGovern said.

5 New Year's resolutions to keep you free of fraud

Here's five resolutions to protect yourself, according to the BBB:

• I resolve to be cautious with email.  Be wary of unsolicited emails from a person or a company. Remember, scammers can make emails look like they are from a legitimate business, government agency, or reputable organization (even BBB!). Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails. 
• I resolve never to send money to strangers. If you haven't met a person face-to-face, don't send them money. This is especially true if the person asks you to transfer funds using a pre-paid debit card or CashApp. Money sent to strangers in this way is untraceable, and once it is sent, there's no getting it back. Scammers will try to trick you into panicking – so before making a move,  think the situation through. Don’t fall for it!
• I resolve to do research before making online payments and purchases. Ask, is this a person or business I know and trust? Do they have a working customer service number? Where is the company physically located? Would I be making payments through a secure server (https://....com)? Have I checked to see if others have complained?
• I resolve to use my best judgment when sharing my personal information. Sharing sensitive personal information with scammers opens the door to identity theft. Never share financial information, your birthdate, address, Social Security/Social Insurance number, or Medicare number with an unsolicited caller.
• I resolve to be social media smart. Use privacy settings on social media and only connect with people you know. Be careful about including personal information in your profile, and never reveal your address and other sensitive information – even in a “fun” quiz. Scammers may use this information to make themselves pass as friends or relatives and earn your trust. They may also take those "favorites" of yours and figure out your passwords, McGovern said. Also, be careful when buying products you see on social media. BBB Scam Tracker has received thousands of complaints about misleading Facebook and Instagram ads.

Scam watch:Weight-loss products promising miraculous results? Be careful of 'New Year, New You' scams

For more information

To learn more about scams, go to BBB.org/ScamTips. For more about avoiding scams, check out BBB.org/AvoidScams. If a scam has targeted you, help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience at BBB.org/ScamTracker.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.