Security

Scammers may try to use you to move stolen money. If you help them, you could be what law enforcement calls a money mule. Money mule scams happen several ways. The story often involves scams related to online dating, work-at-home jobs, or prizes. This is how it usually works: Scammers send money to you, sometimes by check. Then ask you to send (some of) it to someone else. They often want you to use gift cards or wire transfers. Of course, they don’t

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Tags: MONEY MULE SCAM

Gift cards are a great way to give a gift. But did you know that gift cards are also popular with scammers? That’s because they are used as an untraceable method to steal your money. In fact, gift cards are the number one payment method that imposters demand. Gift cards are like cash: if you buy a gift card and someone uses it, you probably cannot get your money back. The key to avoid becoming a victim is to remember, GIFT CARDS ARE FOR GIFTS, NOT PAYMENTS. Anyone who demands payment

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Tags: GIFT CARD SCAM

It’s an all too unfortunate reality that older adults are attractive targets for financial exploitation because they tend to possess more wealth than other potential victims. This is wealth that in many instances has been accumulated over their lifetime through hard work and conscientious saving.    The COVID-19 pandemic made the problem even worse with fraudsters coming out of the woodwork. Many of our vulnerable citizens found themselves the victim of scammers pretending to assist

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Tags: ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY, ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE SCAMS

Why is your credit report important and how do you go about checking it? Watch this video to learn how: As mentioned in the video, you have the right to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, free credit reports are available on a weekly basis through April 2022. Order yours online from annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

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Tags: FREE CREDIT REPORT, IDENTITY THEFT

Personal information. Never share it. Ever. Protect your personal information (bank account number, Social Security number, and date of birth) as well as your Online Banking login credentials. At all times.   Cybercriminals keep finding new ways to attempt to defraud you. From being asked to make a mobile deposit from a computer screen while applying for a grant online to being “friended” by someone you don’t know on Instagram and being caught off guard, the scam methods

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Tags: FRAUD, IDENTITY THEFT

Cyber security awareness is something we all need to embrace. The more you know, the safer you are, and knowing is half the battle. In today’s world, more and more of our home devices (including thermostats, door locks, coffee machines, and smoke alarms) are connected to the Internet. This enables us to control our devices on our smartphones, no matter our location, which can in turn save us time and money while providing convenience and even safety.  These advances in technology are

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Tags: CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS, HOME DEVICES CYBER SECURITY

History is jammed packed with stories of innovative ways that scammers use to trick people to give them their money.  Scams often seem distant and unlikely — until they happen to you. Don’t be fooled. Protect yourself from becoming a victim by watching out for these five signs: An Unexpected Request It is unusual for someone you know to make an unexpected request for money. If your friend or relative contacts you asking for money, contact them through another means before

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Tags: FINANCIAL SCAMS, GIFT CARDS, SCAM WARNING SIGNS

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

Passwords. Passwords. Passwords. Every day we are required to input passwords. Let’s be honest, passwords are a pain. We all know that good ones protect us from hackers, but it’s a real challenge to create and remember strong passwords for all our online accounts. Creating a secure password is more crucial than ever because our lives are often spent in the digital universe: social media, banking, email, shopping, and more. So, how do you create strong passwords that you can recall

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Tags: Cyber-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