Every day, people click or swipe to make online purchases, register for webinars, submit loan applications and post on social media.

All the while, fraudsters are actively attempting to gain access to this personal and financial data and use it for their financial gain.

What does a cyberattack look like?

Cyberattacks can look like fraudsters using your information to apply for a loan, posing as debt collectors to bully you into paying a debt you don’t owe, or soliciting money as part of an investment scam.

Hacking social media accounts to obtain personal information or request money from followers is another type of cyberattack.

Most of the time, a scammer’s objective is to steal debit card, credit card or bank account information to make unauthorized purchases or drain cash from your account.

What should I do first if I'm hacked?

If your account is hacked, change and strengthen your password immediately. It’s important to change your password for other accounts as well, especially if you’ve used the same password in multiple places.

How do I prevent being hacked?

One of the most important preventative steps you can take is to enable two-factor authentication. This requires two forms of identification from whoever is trying to login. Two-factor authentication, also called multi-factor or MFA, involves the delivery of a secure access code to either your email or phone that must be submitted and verified in addition to your password.

So, what should you do if you fall victim to a cyberattack? It may seem like things are out of your control, but there are vital steps you can take to halt the attack and get help quickly. If you fall victim to a cyberattack, the Cybercrime Support Network, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, recommends you:

• Contact your bank or credit card provider to cancel compromised cards and report the fraudulent charges
• Change passwords and pin numbers for affected cards or accounts
• Document when you noticed the fraudulent charges and reported them to your bank
• Add a fraud alert or freeze your credit
• Report the incident to www.ic3.gov

How can I prepare for a potential cyberattack?

No one wants to think about having their bank account compromised, but it’s important to be pregpared.

• Check your bank statement often for unauthorized activity
• Have a backup method of payment in case you’re unable to use your primary card
• Save your bank or credit card company’s helpline number in your phone’s contacts for quick access when you need it most. SouthState’s Customer Care number is (800) 277-2175.

What other steps should I take?

If you have been scammed by a fraudster and sent money, it is important that you contact your bank immediately, as the possibility of getting the funds back decreases greatly as time goes on. You will also want to save all emails, texts and other records from the scammer to use when filing a police report.

After you’ve taken the initial steps of reporting the fraud, and canceling your cards or freezing accounts if necessary, you may wonder what happens next. In some cases, your bank will need to discuss your case further. Depending on the type of fraud you experienced you may receive provisional credit while the charges are being investigated.

In conclusion, cyberattacks have the possibility to throw your finances into turmoil, but knowing what steps to take in a crisis can mitigate your loss and put you back on the road to recovery.