NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast The Right Way to Dodge Scams, Plus Learn How Robo-Investing Works
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Jul 28, 2025 Scramble Hughes, a talented circus performer and acrobat, shares a gripping tale of identity theft involving credit card fraud. Listeners learn vital strategies for recognizing scams and responding swiftly to protect their finances. The discussion extends to comparing robo-advisors to traditional brokerage accounts, exploring the associated risks and protections. Insights about choosing the right investment platform and the importance of emotional resilience during financial mishaps make this an engaging and informative listen.
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Scramble's Credit Card Fraud Story
- Scramble Hughes experienced rapid fraudulent TikTok Shop charges on his credit card and immediate flood of random spam texts and emails.
- He called his bank using the number on his card instead of links in messages and began the fraud dispute process immediately.
Call Your Bank Directly
- Call the number on your card immediately if you suspect fraud instead of clicking on links in texts or emails.
- Avoid engaging with suspicious messages to prevent falling deeper into scams.
Freeze Credit After Fraud
- Freeze your credit with experiments, TransUnion, and Equifax to prevent further fraud after identity theft.
- Use temporary credit freezes where available to monitor possible unauthorized access and block fraud attempts.
