As if October isn’t scary enough, this month is also Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

First off, from the Associated Press comes three “s” suggestions by way of “Dr. Jay” — Alissa Abdullah, who is Mastercard’s deputy chief security officer: Stay suspicious, stop and think about it and stay protected.

And like the costumes that will become so prolific by the end of the month, online impersonators are looking for ways to trick you out of your personal information. Three of the most common of those ways include:

Fear: Whether contacted by phone or email, scammers use specific language that makes it sound like you have a problem that they can help you solve. Tax scams are notorious for employing this technique.

Urgency: If a scammer can create a sense of urgency, it may lead you into a rushed decision. This is often why people are led into sharing their social security numbers.

Money: If you’re being promised from seemingly nowhere a big payday in terms of a larger tax refund or a prize, recognize it for what it is, a scam.

It’s also important to recognize that scam artists are especially good at targeting the lonely with romance scams, the disabled or the elderly with health or relative scams. But with any such scam, the best way to handle a suspected phone fraud is to hang up on the caller and then call the company or institution in question at an official number. This helps especially with scammers who pretend to be someone in authority such as a tax or debt collector, or even a “loved one” who needs immediate financial help for any variety of reasons including bail, legal aid or a hospital bill.

Other tips to keep you safe online include:

— Stay clear of random online quizzes that ask for personal information. A quizzer doesn’t need to know your mother’s maiden name.

— Check out those selling products on Instagram or Facebook Marketplace — not everyone on those sites has the best intentions.

— Use a password manager to ensure you’re using a complex password.

— Turn on multi-factor verification.

— When in doubt, reach out for help: Organizations such as the Identity Theft Protection Center and the AARP Fraud Watch Network offer free services for customers who need help identifying scams or knowing what to do if you’ve been a victim of a scam, the Associated Press reports.

— Help those around you by sharing what you know with a loved one.

— If you or a family member is a victim of a cyberscam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.