Scams

The Rise of Fraud and AI: How to Protect Yourself & Your Money

Technology is evolving as fast as you can blink your eye. One of the most significant challenges we face with this fast-paced evolution of technology is extremely sophisticated and highly believable fraud schemes, many of which are powered by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). While there is a lot of ‘good’ that can come from AI, there is always the downside that comes along with it....

Fraud is happening more than ever, which means it’s crucial to stay informed and be vigilant. Knowing common terms and tactics that scammers use empowers you to recognize red flags and avoid falling victim to deceitful schemes.

Keeping educated on the latest fraudulent practices, can protect your personal and financial well-being, ensuring that you don't endure the hardship and stress that often accompany being scammed.

Staying informed is your first...

Hook, Line, and Sinker: How to Avoid Phishing and Smishing Scams

Today, we're diving into the treacherous waters of phishing and smishing scams. First, what is phishing and smishing?

Phishing: the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages claiming to be from reputable companies in order to persuade individuals to reveal personal information, such as login credentials and credit card numbers.

Smishing: the fraudulent...

Checklist to Protect Yourself & Your Information

With each passing month, our fraud department sees more fraud and scams that negatively impact members and their money. While we try to constantly remind members to watch their account statements and take ownership of personal cyber security, it’s not always easy to spot a scam before it happens.

We’ve put together a simple checklist of items to help protect yourself and your information all year...

It’s that time of year when things should be oh, so jolly. Though the holiday season might start that way, it can quickly escalate to a stomach-dropping feeling of fear, because your identity or financial information has been compromised.

There are several seasonal scams we like to remind members of during this time of the year. Being informed, staying aware, and remaining vigilant could be the difference when...

There is enough in the world to be worried about, but we’re adding one more thing to the list. Always be aware of your online presence and information! It’s a great idea to regularly monitor your cybersecurity to have a little more ease of mind. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, here to remind us to stay safe and secure from threats like malware and scammers.

Here are a dozen tips to consider...

Trending Scams: BIG RETAILER FRAUDSTERS ON THE RISE

Fraud and Scams continue to cost consumers millions and millions of dollars, every day. As a way to help educate members and prevent you from falling victim to these scams, we are providing this blog to illustrate the latest trends and tendencies that we see members fall victim to.

Fake Retailer Scams

This scheme isn’t something new, but one we’ve...

As the holidays approach, scammers and fraudsters kick their efforts into overdrive. They like to prey on the giving spirit of the season and if you’re not careful, you could take a bigger financial hit than what you plan on spending on your holiday shopping list. Familiarize yourself with a few of the top holiday scams that pop up every year around this time and how to avoid them:

Gift Card Scams

The Gift Card Scam is one of the most...

Although many of us take vacations or breaks through the Summer season, fraudsters work all year long. During the Summer months, there are some specific scams to watch for along with typical scams we see all year long.

The Home Repair Scam

This time of year, home improvements seem to take over. In some cases, those home improvements start with or include a repair person…and fraudsters know this. This type of scheme typically begins with...