Cybersecurity risks are evolving quickly, and the uncomfortable truth is that many scams don’t “look” like scams anymore. They look like routine emails from a professional you trust, a quick text from a family member, or a last-minute request that arrives when you’re busy, traveling, or under pressure.
In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October 2026), I’m sharing a short, easy-to-skim one-page guide built around a simple idea: a few smart habits can dramatically reduce your odds of becoming a target.
Below is the same content in a blog-friendly format—so you can scan it now and keep the key takeaways handy the next time you’re moving money, coordinating a real estate transaction, or updating an important account.
The six cybersecurity threats we see again and again, and what to watch for
1) Wire transfer fraud via email compromise
What it is: Criminals can monitor legitimate email conversations for days or even weeks. Then, at exactly the “right” moment, they jump in with believable, last-minute “updated” wire instructions.
Common warning signs:
- A sudden change to wiring instructions, especially close to a deadline
- Pressure to act quickly to “avoid delays” or “hold your spot”
- A subtle change in an email address (extra character, swapped domain, etc.)
- A request to keep the transfer private or to “not call because we’re in a meeting”
Simple habit that helps:
- Before any wire, verify instructions by phone using a number you dial from a trusted source (past statement, official website, saved contact) not a number provided in an email.
2) Social media as a targeting tool
What it is: Public posts can reveal travel plans, relationships, employers, locations, and personal details that criminals use to build more convincing scams.
Common warning signs:
- Connection requests from people you don’t really know
- Accounts impersonating real friends or professionals
- Messages that reference your travel, home, family, or recent activities
- “Too accurate” details that make a scam feel legitimate
Simple habit that helps:
- Tighten privacy settings for every family member and be cautious about posting travel timing in real time. A good rule: share photos after you’re home.
3) Family emergency impersonation
What it is: A fraudster poses as a grandchild, adult child, or other relative in crisis claiming they’ve been arrested, injured, stranded, or in immediate danger, then pressures you to send money quickly.
Common warning signs:
- Urgency and fear: “Please don’t tell Mom/Dad,” “I need help right now,” “I’m scared”
- A request to use unusual payment methods (wire, gift cards, crypto, third-party apps)
- A call from an unfamiliar number, or a text that reads oddly
- The story includes believable personal details (often sourced online)
Simple habit that helps:
- Create a family code word that must be shared before you take action. Share it only in person and keep it simple.
- If you receive a distress call, pause and call another family member or call the person back using a saved contact.
4) Real estate wire fraud
What it is: Real estate transactions create deadlines, large dollar amounts, and multiple parties. Criminals exploit the pressure by sending fake wiring instructions for closing costs or sale proceeds.
Common warning signs:
- Wiring instructions delivered only by email (especially late in the process)
- A last-minute change in where funds should be sent
- A message that claims the “portal is down,” “systems are being upgraded,” or “we’re closing early”
- An email that looks like it came from a title company, attorney, or agent but the details feel slightly “off”
Simple habit that helps:
- Always call the title company using a number you find independently (their official website or previously verified documents) before you send funds.
5) No emergency account access plan
What it is: If the primary decision-maker becomes incapacitated, families can be left scrambling, unable to access critical accounts (banking, brokerage, email, insurance portals, and more). Even with the best intentions, missing information can slow things down at the worst time.
Common warning signs:
- Passwords only stored “in your head”
- No clear list of accounts, institutions, and key contacts
- Two-factor authentication tied only to one person’s phone
- Confusion about who has authority to act and where documents are stored
Simple habit that helps:
- Designate one trusted person who can help in a crisis.
- Consider a practical starting point:
- A secure password manager
- An attorney-prepared instruction letter
- A reviewed beneficiary and account-titling checklist
6) SIM swapping
What it is: A criminal convinces your mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to their device. Once they control your number, they may be able to intercept security codes used to protect your email, bank, or brokerage logins.
Common warning signs:
- Your phone suddenly loses service (“No Service”) for no clear reason
- You receive alerts about carrier changes you didn’t initiate
- Password reset codes arrive that you didn’t request
- You’re locked out of email or financial accounts unexpectedly
Simple habit that helps:
- Call your mobile carrier and ask about adding extra protections such as a port freeze and/or a PIN required for number transfers.
- If you can choose your two-factor method, consider authenticator apps or security keys where appropriate.
The bigger goal: slow down and verify
If there’s one theme across all six threats, it’s this: criminals win by creating urgency. A well-timed message can make even a careful person move quickly.
A simple verification routine, especially for money movement and account changes, can be the difference between “close call” and “costly mistake.”
If you’d like help, I’m here
If anything in this guide raises questions, or if you’d like help thinking through safer ways to manage passwords, devices, travel-related security, or verification steps for moving money, reply and I’ll be glad to talk it through with you.
This is a great month to make small upgrades that support the bigger picture: protecting your financial life so you can stay focused on the goals that matter most.