Just when you thought you’d seen it all, a new type of scam has come up where people are impersonating financial planners. I guess impersonating police officers got too boring.
You may have noticed that financial advisors’ careers aren’t cast in stone. We change firms, start firms, go into partnerships, leave partnerships, and hire new advisors.
Turns out, these transitions can be a good time for scammers to try to get your personal information. And then do nefarious things with it.
If you are introduced to a new financial/legal/banking/accounting advisor, keep these things in mind:
- Double-Check Before Sharing Any Information
- Watch Out for Unusual or Pushy Requests
- Check the Email Address and Website Carefully
- Confirm Video Calls and Appointments through the company website or receptionist (at least at first)
- Stick to Official Payment Methods – don’t ever write checks directly to the advisor’s name or firm name. Always send money directly to the custodian of your account (i.e. Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing, Etrade, etc.).
Changes in personnel are common in financial services companies. There is no need to be paranoid if that happens. A little healthy skepticism about a new person asking for personal information is always a good idea.
Thanks to Catherine Tidd at Social Seed Marketing for this tip!
