When visiting my father at home one afternoon, he received a call from what appeared to be his bank—scammers had hijacked the bank’s phone number, making the call look completely legitimate. I knew it was a scam, and while he was still on the phone, I quickly logged into his account. In real time, we watched $15,000 being transferred out, his email address being changed to the scammer’s email, and his phone number replaced—effectively locking him out of his own account. Luckily, I was there, and with my expertise in cybersecurity and fraud prevention, I was able to intervene, stop the transaction, and rectify the situation. It took several days to fully restore his accounts. At the time, I wondered: What do people do when their daughters aren’t in cybersecurity? Events like this could ruin someone’s financial future. That was when I started offering free, hands-on community fraud prevention workshops to help as many people as I could. I quickly realized that most people don’t need more fear—they need awareness and practical tools.
The number one comment I hear at the beginning is, “I already know what to do—I won’t get scammed.” People are confident they can spot phishing emails or suspicious links. But the mood shifts when I show them their own compromised usernames and passwords, full credit card number information online, social security numbers, and personal data. While they may be doing everything right to avoid scams, the fraud is often happening without them even being aware of it. The astonishment on their faces says it all. What feels like a distant threat suddenly becomes real, and they leave understanding that fraud prevention isn’t just about spotting scams—it’s about recognizing how quickly and convincingly they can happen to anyone.
Has your data been compromised?
If you have an iPhone, Gmail, Microsoft, or Facebook account, it is more likely than not that at least one of your financial account usernames and passwords has already been leaked on the dark web. Those exposed credentials are often traded or shared in cybercrime communities and are specifically used to attempt financial fraud, identity theft, and financial account takeovers.
Want to see if your usernames and passwords have been compromised?
iPhone: Open your Passwords app and check the Security tab. The majority of people will have 10 or more compromised passwords.
Google: Open your Password Manager (if you're not sure how, you can Google it). Many of the passwords listed there may have been exposed online.
You can do the same with Microsoft. If you have a laptop or home computer that is not an Apple device, you have a Microsoft account.
How This Puts You at Risk
Unfortunately, data breaches have become routine. We are not going to stop using the internet or banking online— so how can we start protecting ourselves? The real risk comes from password reuse.
If you used the same password for the following:
● An online store (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, Pinterest, Netflix)
● Your email account
● Your banking app
Then a breach of that store could give attackers the key to test your email or financial accounts.Criminals use automated tools to try stolen credentials across major platforms at scale. If the password works, they move quickly — often resetting other accounts through your email! Your email account, in particular, is the gateway to your financial life. If someone gains access to it, they can trigger password resets for banks, investment accounts, crypto wallets, and payment platforms.
This is how financial scams often begin — not with a dramatic hack, but with a reused password from years ago.
What You Can Do Right Now
The good news: you can significantly reduce your risk in under an hour.
1. Change These Passwords Immediately
Start with:
● Email account
● Bank account and financial services (Venmo, CashApp, Paypal)
● Apple ID
● Gmail/Google account
2. Stop Reusing Passwords
The key is to make each of these passwords unique and never use them anywhere else on the internet. I know it is annoying... but so is being financially scammed.
3. Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for These Accounts. This adds a second layer of protection. Even if someone has your password, it makes it much more difficult to log in without the additional verification code.
4. Prioritize Your Email Security
If your email is secured with a strong, unique password and 2FA enabled, you dramatically reduce the chance of a financial domino effect.
So What To Do Next
Your credentials have already been exposed online. That’s not fear-mongering — it’s the reality of today’s digital world. But exposure does not automatically mean financial loss. The difference between becoming a victim and staying protected often comes down to taking a few immediate actions and improving your cybersecurity knowledge.
You can’t control past breaches... but you can control what happens next.
If you want to learn more about protecting your personal data, finances, identities, and peace of mind— come to the free Fraud Prevention event, Safer Horizon - Total Fraud Prevention, at the Dixie Convention Center on June 3rd.
For more information about the event, visit: www.flexandsiege.com/saferhorizon
Entrance is free and so is the awareness and education being offered through free workshops, local exhibitors, and fraud prevention experts eager to share resources, giveaways, food, and facts.
"Having worked in tech in San Francisco for the past 6 years, I have shifted my dedication to personal cybersecurity—helping individuals understand their digital exposure and equipping them with practical tools to protect themselves from fraud, identity theft, and online scams." -Alex Isanski- Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention Expert
Alexya Isanski-
"Having worked in tech in San Francisco for the past 6 years, I have shifted my dedication to personal cybersecurity—helping individuals understand their digital exposure and equipping them with practical tools to protect themselves from fraud, identity theft, and online scams."
"At the time, I wondered: What do people do when their daughters aren’t in cybersecurity? Events like this could ruin someone’s financial future."