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HOMES, MORTGAGES, FINANCIAL PLANNING & INSURANCE
62 | SPRING 2018
CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE
CHICAGOWEDDINGRESOURCE.COMProtect Your Wedding Plans
From Cybercrime
Digital may make planning easier, but it also makes engaged couples the
vulnerable to cybercriminals. Here’s how to avoid falling victim to a scam
By Kristen Fischer, CTW Features
You
Won a
FREE
Wedding!
As you prepare for your big day, keep in
mind that you’ll need to do more than
select centerpieces and bridesmaids gowns.
Safeguarding your wedding plans from
cybercrimes is a must in this day and age, and
there are multiple ways to shield you and your
partner from getting ripped off.
Scammers follow the money and, as such,
weddings provide a considerable attraction
Given that much of the planning and related
purchases are typically completed online,
opportunities to defraud and to steal identities
are greatly increased.
Couples can help protect themselves and limit
their exposure by taking the following smart
steps.
VET YOUR VENDORS
While vendors may provide poor or no
service, online scams typically involve others
posing as vendors. These criminals prey on
budget focused couples who are looking for
the best deals Since many legitimate vendors
require down payments prior to delivery of
services, weddings are an ideal environment
for scammers to thrive.
Instead, search online for reviews on the
vendor, check the Better Business Bureau
and ask others in wedding forums for their
recommendations.
KEEP POSTS PALTRY
Remember that scammers use Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram too, so limit the
details of what you share in your posts or
on your wedding website. And if a stranger
responds with an offer that sounds too good to
be true, it probably is.
DON’T OVER SHARE
Scammers use three primary pieces of
information when trying to steal a person’s
identity: Social Security number, mother’s
maiden name and date of birth. Other
information such as marriage, work history and
information on children and family are often
found posted on social media sites and are used
to round out the stolen identity profile.
Social engineering, which involves
manipulating others to gain information
or other restricted materials without using
technical hacking skills, is the most common
method for scammers to acquire information.
Couples who post personal details freely are
most susceptible,. Scammers use this posted
information to either call or email targets and
manipulate them for information.
For example, a con might involve a caller
claiming to be your catering company. The
scammer may know the name because you
posted about it on Facebook, and may then
inform you that a payment did not process
properly. As a result, you could be lured into
giving an alternate type of payment over the
phone.
BE A LOSER
Question any notice that involves winning a
wedding-related gift or sweepstakes. Many
of these are scams and involve stealing your
credit card or banking information. If you
didn’t enter a contest or sweepstakes, you
could not have won.
SEEK FUNDING — SUSPICIOUSLY
Need a loan to pull off your wedding? Go to
a known source. The internet is full of sites
that offer easy credit that never materializes,
and you don’t want to give away personal
information to an unknown recipient.
BEWARE OF NAME-CHANGE
SCAMS
If you plan on changing your name, you
should alert your state’s motor vehicle
commission, Social Security Administration
or other institution directly; they should never
contact you via email.
DON’T USE CASH
A credit card is the best payment method
for protecting against financial loss. Should
the vendor fail to deliver, the charges can be
disputed with the credit card company.
© CTW Features