There are some basic practices that can help, but slowing down and moving more deliberately, like taking time to check whether suspicious emails have official-looking addresses (or are off by one letter or digit), can help.

Don’t download software providing remote access to your computer or cellphone. Don’t click on sponsored links, advertisements and pop-up screens, all of which can contain malware. Turn on pop-up blockers in your web browsers.

Scammers can spoof legitimate numbers on your caller ID so it looks like as if are calling from, say, your bank or the Social Security Administration. Be sure to call back providers using phone numbers you found independently, or on the back of your bank cards. (Also be aware that scammers have been known to take over mobile phones and redirect outgoing calls.)

-By  Tara Siegel