Fraud

Back-to-school themed scams are on the rise

It’s back-to-school for kids across the nation. That special time of year when parents rejoice, teenagers groan and teachers take a deep breath. Unfortunately, any time there is a moment to be taken advantage of, scammers are on the prowl. Here are two back-to-school focused scams that are on the uptick as summer ends.

What to do if you lose your wallet or purse

Losing your wallet or purse can be a frustrating experience. Your credit cards, ID, keys and cash are all seemingly out there in the world for anyone to find. Despite the feeling of helplessness, there are ways to mitigate the damage. Here are some steps to take immediately after losing your wallet or purse.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), over $1 billion has been lost to crypto-related scams since January of 2021. More than half that, $575 million, was in connection to these types of investment scams.

Steps to take if your identity is stolen

According to a recent study, in 2021, 15 million consumers were victims of identity theft, with criminals using that personal information to create $24 billion in losses. ID theft is a real problem. Here are some steps to take if you should ever become the victim of this crime.

While making a phone call may seem harmless, you should always consider who's on the other end of the line. Cybercriminals can use callback phishing scams to trick you into calling them directly. Once you’re on the phone, cybercriminals will ask you to share sensitive information or grant them access to your device.

Fraud during times of national or global crisis and upheaval are common as it gives an opportunity to tug at the heartstrings of individuals with sincere intentions to donate. The crisis in Ukraine is the latest global crisis to spark fraudulent calls, texts, emails, as well as social media posts and ads across the internet.

Though there are plenty of scams to look out for, there are also plenty of ways to stay safe. Lori Hodges, Vice President of North America Risk for Visa laid it out for us.

What to do if you lose your wallet or purse

Losing your wallet or purse is a giant financial headache. You basically have to get on the phone and call everyone — health insurance providers, credit card companies, etc. — to get things back to normal. If you’ve lost your wallet or purse or had it stolen, here’s a look at what you should do and how to do it.

Follow these steps to protect your identity and sensitive financial information

Keeping your computers safe from cyber attacks isn’t just something governments and large industries have to worry about these days. Anyone who uses a smartphone, computer or other electronic device to send email, visit social media sites, search the internet or even pay bills online can fall victim to criminals looking to hack into your accounts to steal your passwords, identity and money.

It’s only early November, but you have probably already seen Christmas trees sold in stores. This is a trend known as “seasonal creep” in which retailers start selling seasonal items in advance of the actual season. Did you know that cybercriminals also follow this trend?