In addition to teaching your kids about financial literacy, teach them (and yourself) to identify scams that are designed to steal from you.

One scam that has made a comeback and is surprisingly successful is spoofing through an email or text that asks you to either buy gift cards or pay for something with gift cards. Receiving a text or email that makes such a request is ALWAYS a scam. Recognize it and prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

The Federal Trade Commission provides consumers with tips on how to “spot and avoid scammers.” One tip is “If you’re asked to pay for something with a gift card, that’s a scam. Period. Gift cards are for gifts, not payments.”

These and other tips for Financial Literacy Month can help keep your money growing instead of dwindling – a solid plan for Financial Literacy Month.

Photo of Linn Foster Freedman Linn Foster Freedman

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chairs the firm’s Data Privacy and Security and Artificial Intelligence Teams. Linn focuses her…

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chairs the firm’s Data Privacy and Security and Artificial Intelligence Teams. Linn focuses her practice on compliance with all state and federal privacy and security laws and regulations. She counsels a range of public and private clients from industries such as construction, education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, utilities and critical infrastructure, marine and charitable organizations, on state and federal data privacy and security investigations, as well as emergency data breach response and mitigation. Linn is an Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Cybersecurity at Brown University and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law.  Prior to joining the firm, Linn served as assistant attorney general and deputy chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Rhode Island. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and her B.A., with honors, in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.