Consumer Alert: Scam Using the NYS Department of Financial Services’ Name The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has been notified of a scam in which a fraudster calls a consumer regarding a bank or credit union “case” being “prosecuted” by DFS against the consumer. The fraudster identifies himself as either being from DFS or the […]
Staying Safe when Shopping Online With the holiday season in full swing, many consumers will find themselves shopping online. Stay safe with these suggestions from the Federal Trade Commission: Get the Details Know who you’re dealing with. Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number […]
More Merchants Requiring a PIN with Debit Transactions Whether you are shopping brick and mortar or online, making sure you are able to do so in a secure manner and as easily as possible is crucial. Please note the following tips: More Merchants are Requiring a PIN with Debit Transactions – In an effort to reduce […]
As phishing becomes a top cyber threat—with losses growing to nearly $30 million in 2017 from $8 million in 2015, according to the FBI—the American Bankers Association and the Federal Trade Commission today released a new infographic highlighting this growing problem. Accoding to the ABA, phishing scams typically involves emails, texts or calls that come from seemingly […]
Employee Education and Awareness Keys to Prevention Fraud is on the rise and growing at an alarming rate among the small business community. As scammers change their techniques, businesses need to raise their level of vigilance. According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the number of suspicious activity reports (SARs) describing Business Email Compromise […]
With New York’s SHIELD Act taking effect on March 21, 2020, it’s important for small businesses to continue building on their cyber security knowledge to safeguard customer information and prevent losses from fraud. Fraud and cyber security threats are some of the leading sources of risk for businesses and individuals today. It’s challenging to stay […]
Almost from the minute you close on your new home, you receive a multitude of offers for dozens of home-related services. It’s all part of being a new home owner. That is, until the offers cross the line into scams. Like it or not, the information about a home purchase and the terms and conditions […]
Roughly 20 percent of older Americans fall prey to financial exploitation losing on average $120,000, or $3 billion every year, according to a study from the AARP Public Policy Institute. Be on the Lookout for Elder Financial Abuse Scams The unfortunate reality is that older adults are attractive targets for financial exploitation because they possess […]
We’ve all done it – use the same passwords for multiple accounts because it’s just easier. Well, it’s also easier for hackers. By repeating passwords or using similar variations, you are essentially creating a master key. Once hackers have your key, they have access to everything. But creating unique passwords can help stop hackers in […]
Financial institutions use a wide range of security protocols to make sure customer information stays safe and secure for online and mobile banking. But customers also have a significant amount of power when it comes to stopping hackers and thieves in their tracks. Follow these suggestions for keeping your online and mobile banking access secure. […]
It’s that time already. Students returning to campus, and scammers often come along for the ride. Fraudulent offers and discounts are targeted at college students looking to save money wherever possible. The list below provides information on a few of the scams commonly targeted at young college students. But the list is by no means […]
Turn to these resources if you suspect you may be the victim of fraud.
Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. We want to help change that by raising awareness among our customers with best practices for creating a personal phishing defense.