New Jersey Top 10 In Financial Losses to Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are constant, and every day several people in New Jersey end up in their net. For many, it’s a life-altering experience that no one wants to go through. Millions are educated and don’t fall for them, but there is still a small percentage who fall prey to these bad actors' clever tactics.

The criminals don’t expect to catch everyone, just a few here and there to make the effort worthwhile. That’s why it’s called “phishing.” Sometimes you have a good day and catch a lot, and some days are slower, but if you’re the trout that ends up on the hook it’s devastating.

I warn my kids about the various tricks the bad guys try to pull, and they seem to get it. Trying to convince my parents is a bit more difficult, mainly my dad. He’s 88 years old and isn’t tuned into the vast possibilities and capabilities of modern technology.

For instance, he can’t quite seem to get his head around the fact that someone can create a webpage or an email that looks totally official. “They wouldn’t be able to make it look as good as the bank’s,” he’d say. Yes they would, they could and they do.

It’s not just the elderly who are being fooled in New Jersey, and that’s why we’re sixth on the list of all states that fall for phishing scams the most. New Jersey’stotal victim loss amounted to $2,852,334, which is $30,800 per 100,000 people.

The folks at CoinJournal.net examined FBI data to find the states with the highest losses due to cybercrimes. They warn that these bad actors are becoming more sophisticated every day, and we need to stay alert and aware of possible phishing scams.

Arkansas was number one, followed by New Hampshire, California, Nevada, Montana, and New Jersey at number six. Connecticut landed at number eight for phishing scam victims.

The main thing I tell my parents is never to give any information to anyone who has contacted you. If they say they’re from the bank, tell them you’ll call them back. They use the number you have, not the number they give you.

Do you ever feel like you're working hard but don't have the money to show for it? It's a common sentiment. Well, the good news is that today, there are some ways to make extra money right now that can really add up. Now, there's no "easy" solution to making more cash. But, we've researched some ways that people are making extra money, and they're simple.

Before we get into ways to make extra money, let's start with saving money. NerdWallet.com has some really simple tips for saving cash. A big one is to prepare for grocery shopping. That's so that you aren't grabbing a bunch of stuff that you don't need on a whim. "A little work before you go to the grocery store can go a long way toward helping you save money on groceries," they state. Prepping also means that you can maximize any coupons that you find for items you'll be purchasing or knowing about loyalty programs ahead of time. The big one is to not impulse by. I've done that so many times, when I but cinnamon rolls or something else that I don't really want just because it looks good at the time.

Another savings tip from NerdWallet.com is to restrict online shopping. Boy, that's a good one. It's so easy to sit there on your phone, saving items that look cool in your online cart. Then, all you have to do is hit "order," but often, you're ordering a bunch of stuff that you don't really need. They suggest that, "Instead of saving your billing information, opt to input your shipping address and credit card number each time you order. You'll probably make fewer impulse purchases because of the extra work involved." Good idea. Find more tips on saving money from NerdWallet.com here. Forbes has some good advice, too, in suggesting to do real meal prep. It helps avoid eating out too much, which can really add up.

Now, let's get into easy ways to make extra money.

This option has been there since the advent of the garage sale. If you have items sitting around that you don't want or need anymore, sell them. It's a quick way to make some cash. You can put them up for sale on eBay, a Facebook group or elsewhere online, or you can go the old-fashioned way and hold a yard sale.

I've house sat quite a bit, and I personally love it. It's very peaceful to watch over someone's house. Duties-wise, it can involve anything from watering plants to just staying there so that nobody breaks in during a long vacation. Pet sitting is also a great way to make a little extra money. While you're at it, try being a dog walker, too.

Being a mystery shopper is a real thing. You can shop, either online or in person, and get paid for reviewing your experience. But, watch out for scams. A great way to find legit mystery shopper jobs is by looking on job sites such as Ziprecruiter.com or Indeed.com.

You can make money by simply taking online surveys. It's not usually a lot of money, but it's better than nothing, and you can do it during downtime. A few major survey sites include Swagbucks and Survey Junkie. Find more via NerdWallet.com here.

Self-publishing has never been so easy. If you are very knowledgeable in an area that people want to know about, why not self-publish an e-book? Using Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing, you can sell your books via the Kindle store. Publishing the book is free, and you can earn an upwards of 70% of each sale in royalties. You can even try your hand at a wild novel and see how it does, if you don't want to write a practical book.

A quick way to make some cash during your off hours is by delivering groceries or food. Services such as Instacart and Shipt use independent contractors to deliver food to clients. Also, services such as Uber Eats and Doordash are often looking for delivery people.

It might seem odd to open a new credit card to try to make money, but it can help. Many credit cards offer new client deals, so if you spend a certain amount after signing up, you could get some cash back or other bonuses. Also, you could find a cash back card, where you get cash back on everyday purchases, such as gas or groceries. Say you don't want a new credit card? You could also open a new bank account at a bank where they are giving cash-back offers for starting business with them. Also, to get the most for your money, look for a high-interest savings.