Holiday shopping is a gold rush for fraudsters, and we’ve seen firsthand how fast a quiet click can turn into sleepless nights. After helping a client recover from a bank account hit, we pulled together a clear, end-of-year cyber checklist to protect your money, your identity, and your family’s peace of mind. No jargon, no scare tactics—just the high-leverage moves that actually work.We start with the most effective layer: freeze your credit at all three bureaus for yourself, your spouse, and your kids so new-account fraud can’t start in your name. Then we lock down logins with multi-factor authentication on email, banking, and cloud accounts, using authenticator apps instead of SMS. We pair that with password managers and auto-updates on phones, laptops, and even routers to close the software doors criminals use. From there, we turn on transaction alerts for withdrawals, new payees, and new-device logins, giving you instant visibility when something’s off.Security meets savings as we audit six months of statements to cancel forgotten subscriptions and catch sneaky $19 and $99 renewals. We scan and secure tax records, shred old files, and reduce your exposure on data-broker sites like Spokeo and BeenVerified to cut spear-phishing down to size. Finally, we build a 15-minute family breach plan: who calls the bank, where freeze PINs are stored, and which backup card and cash sit outside your wallet. Along the way, we break down the most common attacks you’ll face—phishing, business email compromise, credential stuffing, ransomware, account takeovers, malware, fake invoices, romance scams, and SIM swaps—plus how to spot them fast.If you only do three things today, do these: freeze credit, turn on MFA, and set transaction alerts. Those steps stop or blunt most financial fraud we see. Subscribe for more Money Matters insights, share this with someone who needs a cyber tune-up, and leave a review with the first action you’re taking—what will you lock down tonight?Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

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