Safeguarding your personal health and financial information is important. And over the last few years, you have probably heard about how online scammers and cybercriminals are getting personal information to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Make sure you learn more about these scams to help keep you and your family safe.

One way cybercriminals are trying to get information is by creating fake advertisements on popular websites and on social media platforms. The scammers may direct victims to a fake site, where they capture and steal sensitive personal information, such as bank and credit card information. These scammers engage curiosity and lure in unsuspecting victims with content that looks real.

Here are just a few tips for helping to safeguard your personal information:

• Slow down and ask questions before you act or provide information. Take the extra time to confirm that you are providing information to a legitimate website or person.
• Watch out for phishing schemes. Don’t provide personal information to an organization or person you don’t know.
• Recognize the warning signs of fraudulent websites. If a url doesn’t look right or if the website looks a little funny, question it. Always make sure you are using a secure website, and make sure to read each site’s privacy policy.
• If you feel you have been a target of fraudulent activity online, report it to the FTC at: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

Where applicants for jobs at Ascension should apply

Job and careers sites are one major target for cybercriminals, so it’s important to make sure that you are applying for jobs on legitimate websites and platforms. Applicants viewing job postings on Ascension Careers webpages and through Ascension social media, including Facebook and other other social media used for job postings, should apply only through jobs.ascension.org as the authorized career website.

It is important to know that Ascension personnel and employment recruiters will never ask you for banking or credit card information and will only confirm information you included in your application submitted on jobs.ascension.org.

What to do if you suspect you are a victim of identity theft

Anyone who believes they are a victim of identity theft should do the following and follow the steps outlined by the FTC:

• Report the incident to https://identitytheft.gov/ which is managed by the Federal Trade Commission.
• Contact your local police department and ask to file a report regarding identity theft.