According to the Federal Trade Commission, American consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, an increase of 25% since 2023. At Midwest Community Federal Credit Union, our goal is to help protect you and your loved ones from falling victim to fraud and to keep your hard-earned money protected from would-be scammers. Below we’ve shared some of the most common scams as well as ways to protect yourself. As always, feel free to contact us or visit…
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Technology continues to evolve rapidly, bringing with it the convenience of online services and the power of artificial intelligence. It also opens new doors for malicious online actors. Hackers, data breaches, and malware have become common, unwanted visitors in our lives. According to Zscaler’s annual phishing report, phishing attacks, or fraudulent emails sent to gain people’s personal information and money, surged by nearly 60% in 2023. In recognition of Cybersecurity Month, we’re sharing best practices for safeguarding your personal data…
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With 1 in 20 senior citizens in the U.S. reportedly being scammed out of their money, elder financial exploitation is something we should all be concerned about. It is important for older adults to have a trusted advocate in their later years. Whether you have witnessed this firsthand with loved ones, or you simply want to protect them before it’s too late, read these tips from AARP to keep the seniors in your life safe. Think ahead. Talk to your…
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Fraud continues to be a major issue, wreaking havoc on the lives of many Americans. While everyone is at risk and there’s no foolproof way to eliminate it, learning how to safeguard yourself against fraud can go a long way in lowering your risk. According to recent reports from the Internal Revenue Service, thousands of fraudulent domains tied to multiple texting scams have been reported. Known as “smishing,” these fraudulent text messages appear to be from a consumer’s financial institution…
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Your Social Security number (SSN) is one of the most important pieces of personal information you have. Not only does your unique nine-digit number enable you to receive benefits from the Social Security Agency (SSA), but it’s also required when applying for jobs or signing up for programs run by the federal government. Unfortunately, Social Security numbers are also the key to identity theft — and there are all sorts of ways for a thief to use your SSN for criminal purposes. Besides trying…
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Here’s a short video explaining how to safeguard yourself from fraud and identity theft.
*This article originally appeared in 2020. Identity theft is on the rise and wreaking havoc on the lives of many Americans. While everyone is at risk and there’s no foolproof way to safeguard against it, learning how to protect yourself from this type of fraud can go a long way in lowering your risk of identity theft. While no one is immune to identity theft, some are more at risk than others. Children, seniors, active-duty military, and social media users,…
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KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform is offering an interactive, no-cost, children’s cybersecurity activity kit to the public. The activity kit consists of two workbooks with puzzles and games, a poster and a video module featuring KnowBe4’s security awareness hero Captain Awareness. The workbook also includes a cyber hero pledge consisting of helpful tips to help children stay safe online, along with a family agreement that parents can review with their children to set guidelines…
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Smartphones have gone from novelty items to hubs for communication, entertainment, travel, research, banking, navigation, and capturing it all for posterity. If you’re a person whose daily functioning and secrets are tied to your phone, make sure that only you can access it. The easiest way to secure your phone is to always keep it with you. Most people have conditioned themselves to regularly check their phone throughout the day. The ability to remotely track, lock, or erase phones using…
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A: In 2017, the Identity Theft Resource Center counted a new record high of 1,579 data breaches, exposing more than 178 million records. Nearly 60 million Americans have been affected by identity theft, according to a 2018 online survey by The Harris Poll. That same survey indicates nearly 15 million consumers experienced identity theft in 2017. What are the most common types of identity theft? According to the Federal Trade Commission, the government agency that maintains a sort of warehouse…
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