Security

It’s a staggering number. More than 42 million Americans owe a total of nearly $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. It’s no wonder people look for help. But not all help is legit. Scammers are targeting borrowers with student loan debt relief schemes that can actually make things worse.  In a new case announced recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges the operators of Mission Hills Federal and Federal Direct Group bilked borrowers out of more than $23 million. The FTC

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Tags: STUDENT LOAN DEBT SCAM

Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give someone a gift. They’re also a popular way for scammers to steal money from you. That’s because gift cards are like cash: if you buy a gift card and someone uses it, you probably cannot get your money back. Gift cards are for gifts, not payments. Anyone who demands payment by gift card is ALWAYS a scammer. Many different kinds of imposters ask you to pay with gift cards. Someone might call you and claim to be from the IRS, collecting

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Tags: GIFT CARD SCAM

A credit card thief can get your card information by using a device called a Credit Card Skimmer. Skimmers are any number of devices made to be affixed to an ATM or a gas pump and secretly record credit and debit card information when customers slip their cards into or through the machines to pull out money or to pay for gas. The criminals later retrieve the devices that store your information and use or sell it to other criminals who use it, and your credit card is charged. Here are some tips

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Mobile devices, such as smartphones, smart watches, and tablets, continue to advance and innovate at an astonishing rate. As a result, some people replace their mobile devices as frequently as every year. Unfortunately, people often do not realize how much personal data is on these devices. Below we cover what may be on your mobile device and how you should securely wipe it before disposing of it. If your mobile device was issued to you by your employer, or has any work data stored on it, be sure

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Tags: SECURE MOBILE DEVICE DISPOSAL

Cyber criminals continue to come up with new and creative ways to fool people. A new type of scam is gaining popularity— personalized scams. Cyber criminals find or purchase information about millions of people, then use that information to personalize their attacks. Below we show you how these scams work and walk you through a common example. The more you know about these scams, the easier it is for you to spot and stop them. How Does it Work? Email or phone call scams are not new, cyber

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Tags: SCAM PREVENTION

During the holiday season, millions of people will be looking online to buy the perfect gifts. What’s not to love? You make a list, check it twice, and then shop shop shop. It’s fast, convenient, and lets you avoid the crowds, however online shopping may make you vulnerable to identity theft. Here are some helpful tips to stay safe when shopping via the internet this holiday season: Shop at websites you trust On the web, some businesses are fabricated by cyber criminals who are

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Tags: Cyber-security

The security and safety of our customers' accounts is extremely important to us, and First Citizens is pleased to offer Text Message Fraud Alerts as part of our debit card protection program. This added protection to your debit card is automatic and text message alerts are free. Here is how it works: When a suspicious activity is detected on your First Citizens debit card, you will receive a fraud alert via text message. If you receive a fraud alert, reply YES (to confirm the transaction)

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Tags: Combat Fraud