Carmen Million, President of the Better Business Bureau of South Louisiana, shares critical insights on protecting ourselves from financial predators targeting our money through sophisticated scams and identity theft tactics.

• Grandparent scams are resurging with AI voice cloning technology that makes scammers sound like real family members in distress
• The IRS will never call demanding immediate payment or gift cards - they always send official mail correspondence first
• Tax identity theft is increasing, with criminals filing fraudulent returns to steal refunds before legitimate taxpayers file
• When choosing tax preparation services, avoid those promising unusually large refunds or same-day payments through loans
• Vacation scams often feature too-good-to-be-true deals - always verify reservations directly with hotels and cruise lines
• Identity thieves can reconstruct documents torn into pieces, making professional cross-shredding essential
• The BBB hosts a free document shredding event on April 5th at the Baton Rouge Police Department from 9am-12pm
• Anything containing personal information should be properly disposed of, including bank statements, tax documents, and credit card offers

To stay protected, be skeptical of unexpected calls and emails, verify before making payments, choose trusted financial service providers, and stay updated on scams through resources like the BBB Scam Tracker.

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Welcome to Money Matters, the podcast that focuses on how to use the money you have, make the money you need and save the money you want – brought to you by Neighbors Federal Credit Union.

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.