Protecting What Matters: Download Our Fraud Prevention Guide

As cybercrime and financial fraud continue to rise, protecting your personal information and assets has never been more important. In collaboration with Charles Schwab, we’ve put together a detailed, downloadable fraud prevention guide to help you stay safe online and recognize threats before they can do harm.

This guide offers actionable steps to protect yourself and your financial accounts. Here are some key highlights:

Top Tips for Protecting Your Identity and Finances

• Keep Your Information Up to Date

  Let us know as soon as possible if you change your phone number, email, or physical address so we can stay in touch securely.

  
  

• Expect a Confirmation Call

  For your protection, we will call to confirm any email requests involving trades, fund transfers, or account changes.

  
  

• Be Cautious of Unsolicited Contacts

  If you receive a phone call, text, or email asking for money or personal information unexpectedly, treat it with skepticism.

  
  

• Think Before You Click

  Don’t click on links or attachments unless you're certain of the sender’s identity. Instead, type the correct URL (like https://www.schwaballiance.com) directly into your browser.

  
  

• Inspect Links Carefully

  Hover over any suspicious links to preview the destination URL. If it looks odd or doesn't match the sender, don’t click.

  
  

• Log Out Completely

  After accessing secure websites like online banking or investment platforms, always log out fully—don’t just close your browser.

  
  

• Use Strong, Unique Passwords

  Each financial account should have a different, complex password. Use a trusted password manager to help create and store them securely.

  
  

Fraud Red Flags to Watch Out For

Fraudsters often pressure victims to use difficult-to-trace payment methods like gift cards, pre-loaded debit cards, cryptocurrency, or gold. No legitimate financial institution including Charles Schwab, the IRS, or Social Security, will ever ask you to transfer money this way.

Be especially cautious with wire transfers. While they are legitimate for home or auto purchases, they are hard to trace and can be nearly impossible to reverse. For your safety, our Firm has a no wire transfer policy. Instead, we recommend establishing a secure ACH MoneyLink through Schwab to safely transfer funds to your checking account.

What to Do if You Suspect a Scam

If you believe you may be the target of fraud or suspicious activity:

• Contact Schwab Alliance immediately at 1-800-515-2157

• Reach out to our Firm at 407-478-7899 so we can help assess the situation and monitor your accounts

  
  

Download the Full Guide

For more in-depth information, download the full Fraud Prevention Guide created in collaboration with Charles Schwab. It's packed with best practices and tools you can use to stay safe in a digital-first world.

Download the Guide Here

Stay safe and stay informed. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

This Commentary is provided by Spraker West Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor, and is for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment advice and is not intended as a solicitation of any specific product or service. Investments and/or investment strategies include risk including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives. Information provided is not intended as tax or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from a qualified professional.