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Fraud Prevention Habits Worth Reviewing Every Quarter

09/09/2026

Fraud Prevention Habits Worth Reviewing Every Quarter

Most people set up some version of fraud protection at some point and then don't think about it again. A strong password here, a fraud alert there, maybe alerts on a credit card. That's a reasonable start. The problem is that fraud doesn't stay the same. 

In 2024, consumers in the United States reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud, a 25% increase over 2023. The tactics scammers use evolve constantly, and what protected you two years ago may not be enough today. Phishing, fake payment schemes, and debit card fraud are among the most common scams consumers are facing right now, according to the Consumer Finance Risk Monitor 2026. 

A quarterly review of your fraud prevention habits takes less than an hour and can make a significant difference. Here's what to check and why it matters.

 

Review Your Account Activity 

The first and most fundamental habit is also the one most people skip. Reviewing your account statements thoroughly, not just glancing at the total balance, is how you catch unauthorized transactions early. 

Set aside time once a quarter to go line by line through your checking, savings, and credit card statements. Look for: 

  • Small charges you don't recognize (fraudsters often test stolen card details with small transactions before making larger ones) 

  • Recurring charges for subscriptions you didn't sign up for or no longer use 

  • Transfers or payments you didn't initiate 

  • Any change to direct deposit or automatic payment destinations 

The sooner unauthorized activity is reported, the better your chances of recovering funds. Family Trust's online and mobile banking tools make it easy to review transactions anytime, from anywhere. 

 

Update and Audit Your Passwords 

Passwords are one of the most overlooked vulnerabilities in personal financial security. If you're still using the same password across multiple accounts, or if your passwords haven't changed in years, it's time to address that. 

Each quarter, take stock of the passwords protecting your most sensitive accounts: 

  • Online banking 

  • Email accounts tied to financial logins 

  • Investment and retirement accounts 

  • Credit card portals 

  • Any account that stores payment information 

Password managers like Bitwarden, 1Password, or similar tools generate and store complex, unique passwords for every account so you don't have to memorize them. If you aren't using one, adding it to your routine this quarter is one of the highest-value security changes you can make. 

Also confirm that two-factor authentication is enabled on every financial account that offers it. Even if a password is compromised, two-factor authentication creates a second barrier that stops most unauthorized access cold.

Pull Your Credit Reports 

Your credit report is one of the most effective fraud detection tools available to you, and it's free. Reviewing your reports quarterly lets you catch signs of identity theft before they compound into bigger problems. 

Signs of fraudulent activity on a credit report include: 

  • Accounts you didn't open 

  • Hard inquiries from lenders you never contacted 

  • Addresses you've never lived at 

  • Balances that don't match your records 

You can access your reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. For more frequent monitoring, consider placing a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A credit freeze prevents new credit from being opened in your name without your explicit authorization and costs nothing to place or lift. 

 

Check Your Online Presence 

Fraud increasingly begins with publicly available personal information. Scammers build profiles using details scraped from social media, data broker sites, and public records, and then use that information to impersonate you, answer security questions, or target you with personalized phishing attempts. 

Once a quarter, do a quick audit of what's visible about you online: 

  • Search your own name and see what comes up 

  • Review your social media privacy settings on every platform you use 

  • Consider whether your profiles show your birthdate, hometown, employer, or family members' names publicly 

  • Look into data broker opt-out tools if you want to remove your information from aggregator sites 

The less personal information available publicly, the harder you are to target. 

 

Stay Current on the Latest Scam Tactics 

Fraud awareness isn't a one-time education. Staying current on how scammers are operating is an ongoing practice. 

One of the most significant developments in 2026 is the rise of AI-powered fraud. AI can now produce a usable voice clone from under three seconds of audio scraped from a social media video, voicemail greeting, or podcast clip. Scammers use these clones to impersonate family members in distress, calling to request emergency wire transfers or gift card payments. 

Key warning signs of AI voice cloning scams include a flat or unusual emotional tone, odd pauses or phrasing, and urgent requests coming from unknown numbers. 

The most effective defense is a family safe word. Establishing a specific, uncommon word or phrase with your family members that anyone can be asked to provide during an urgent phone call is a simple, zero-cost way to verify identity before taking any action. 

Beyond voice cloning, common active scams to be aware of include: 

  • Imposter scams: Fraudsters pose as your bank, a government agency, or a trusted company and create urgency to pressure you into sharing account information or sending money 

  • Peer-to-peer payment fraud: Someone sends you money and asks you to send it back, usually claiming it was sent by mistake. The original payment was made with stolen funds. 

  • Phishing and smishing: Fake emails and text messages mimicking legitimate organizations, designed to capture login credentials or personal information 

  • Recovery scams: Targeting people who have already been defrauded, posing as law enforcement or recovery services and extracting additional money 

A rule worth memorizing: any call, text, or email that creates urgency, asks for money, and requests gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency as the payment method is almost certainly a scam. Slow down. Verify through a known, trusted contact method before doing anything else. 

 

Verify Your Alert Settings 

Transaction alerts are one of the simplest and most effective early-warning tools available. Each quarter, log in to your accounts and confirm that alerts are set up the way you want them. 

Consider enabling alerts for: 

  • Every debit card transaction over a certain dollar threshold 

  • Any login to your account from a new device or location 

  • Transfers out of your accounts 

  • Changes to contact information or login credentials 

  • Declined transactions 

If something looks wrong, you want to know immediately, not when you review your statement a month later. 

 

Know What Your Financial Institution Will and Won't Ask For 

One of the most effective things you can do is know the communication policies of your financial institution. Family Trust will never call, email, or text you asking for your full account number, password, PIN, or one-time security code. If someone contacts you claiming to be from Family Trust and asks for any of these things, hang up and call us directly at (803) 367-4100 using the number you know is ours. 

Fraudsters regularly spoof the phone numbers of banks and credit unions to make their calls appear legitimate. Caller ID alone is not a reliable way to verify who you're speaking with. 

 

Make It a Habit, Not a Reaction 

The people who recover quickly from fraud attempts, and the ones who avoid them altogether, have one thing in common. They're proactive. They don't wait for something to go wrong before paying attention to their financial security. 

Building quarterly fraud reviews into your routine, the same way you might schedule a health checkup or a financial planning check-in, keeps your defenses current and gives you peace of mind that your accounts and identity are protected. 

 

We're Here to Help You Stay Protected 

Family Trust takes fraud prevention seriously and provides members with resources to stay ahead of threats. Learn more on our fraud education page, explore our digital banking tools for real-time account monitoring, or call us at (803) 367-4100 if you ever suspect fraudulent activity on your account. You can also visit any of our branch locations to speak with a team member directly.