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Scammers are using email to trick you into giving them your personal information more and more. This practice is known as phishing. Cybercriminals may try to steal your account numbers, your Social Security number or your passwords. With this information, they could gain access to your email account, bank account or other accounts. Although the scammers are always coming up with new tricks, there are a few signs that will help you recognize a phishing email.

Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud for their own personal gain. The perpetrator may use this information to apply for credit, file taxes, or drain your bank account. This can damage your credit and cost you time and money to restore your identity.

Hearing the words “credit freeze” can sometimes create an uneasiness. What does it mean? Does it affect my credit score? Simply put, a credit freeze is a measure put in place by consumers to help prevent new accounts from being opened fraudulently in their name.

ATM and debit card fraud are on the rise. In order to keep your debit card and money safe, you’ll need to keep your PIN, or Personal Identification Number, confidential. The credit union is doing everything we can to keep your money safe, but there are some steps that you can take to ensure that your debit card information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

According to data FICO released in March 2018, during 2017, the number of compromised ATMs and point-of-sale devices rose 8 percent. We often visit ATMs at financial institutions and gas stations, but how do we spot credit card skimmers that are out and about?

It’s bad enough that we worry about getting the coronavirus, or a loved one getting it; but now we must be leery of COVID-19 scams. Unfortunately, there are scammers out there who won’t think twice about taking advantage of you, even during a pandemic.

When you purchase your home, there are always things here and there that you would like to improve or change. Some of these changes you can handle on your own, such as painting a room or two. More complicated changes or improvements, such as a new roof or installing new windows, should be left to the professionals.

While we all still go to stores to do a lot of our shopping, nothing beats the ease of shopping online. You can get all that you need, all with just a tap of a screen or a click of a mouse. While shopping online can be fun, it can also pose real risks. You can reduce your chances of running into those risks by following a few simple rules.

Anyone can fall victim to financial scams, but senior citizens are at a higher risk. Elder financial abuse is a crime that can deplete your entire retirement savings, while the scammers make off with your hard-earned money. According to the National Council on Aging, estimates of elder financial abuse and fraud range from $2.9 billion to $36.5 billion every year.

These days, we’re living in a world that is completely password driven. We depend on passwords to access online banking, online shopping, social media and more. You often hear that you should use strong passwords online, but what makes a password strong?