In addition to teaching your kids about financial literacy, teach them (and yourself) to identify scams that are designed to steal from you.

One scam that has made a comeback and is surprisingly successful is spoofing through an email or text that asks you to either buy gift cards or pay for something with gift cards. Receiving a text or email that makes such a request is ALWAYS a scam. Recognize it and prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

The Federal Trade Commission provides consumers with tips on how to “spot and avoid scammers.” One tip is “If you’re asked to pay for something with a gift card, that’s a scam. Period. Gift cards are for gifts, not payments.”

These and other tips for Financial Literacy Month can help keep your money growing instead of dwindling – a solid plan for Financial Literacy Month.