Information security and fraud prevention
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How to Spot Financial Grooming Scams
Scammers no longer rely on quick-hit phishing scams; instead, they patiently cultivate online relationships — a tactic investigators call financial grooming. This article unpacks how grooming scams unfold and the red flags to watch for. We also detail the practical actions you and your loved ones can take to shut fraudsters out.
How to Protect Yourself from Spear Phishing Attacks
Cyber threats have become increasingly sophisticated, targeting not just large corporations but individuals as well. Among these threats, the spear phishing attack is one of the most deceptive and damaging. So, what is a spear phishing attack, and how do you protect yourself?
Stay Safe in the End Zone: Avoiding Financial Scams During Football Season
Football season is a time for excitement, cheering on your favorite team, and creating lasting memories with friends and family. However, it's also a time when scammers are on the lookout to take advantage of distracted fans. From fake tickets to fraudulent online offers, football season provides scammers with numerous opportunities to trick unsuspecting victims. By staying alert and knowing how to spot common scams, you can protect your finances while enjoying the game.
Protecting Your Finances: Cybersecurity Best Practices
In today's digital world, protecting your finances has become more challenging than ever. With cybercriminals constantly devising new ways to access personal information and compromise accounts, it’s crucial to stay informed and practice good cybersecurity habits. Whether you're managing your finances online or simply browsing the web, knowing how to safeguard your data can prevent financial loss and protect your personal information from falling into the wrong hands.
Avoiding Holiday Scams: From Phishing to Travel Frauds
The festive season is a time of joy, giving and celebration. But as you prepare to dive into the celebrations, you must be on guard against scams that could ruin your festivities. From convincing phishing emails decorated with jingle bells to too-good-to-be-true travel deals promising a winter wonderland, the tactics are endless and, sadly, effective.
Generally, financial institutions follow information security guidelines and never request personal or sensitive information. Therefore, any call or information request for your banking information, such as banking username and password, account number, routing number or social security number, should be treated with the utmost suspicion.
As technology evolves, scammers are getting more sophisticated. Some of their rackets appear genuine. Thus, you must be extra vigilant, especially during this holiday season. Here's a detailed overview to equip you against potential pitfalls.
Ensuring Member Data Security: How Credit Unions Safeguard Your Information
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and the growing significance of data in various sectors, the safety and security of personal information have become paramount. Credit unions, financial institutions that serve their members' financial needs while operating as non-profit organizations, are no exception to this rule.
With the increasing reliance on digital platforms for banking and transactions, credit unions have taken robust measures to keep member data safe and secure. In this article, we explore the strategies employed by credit unions to protect their members' sensitive information.
What is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?
Two-factor authentication is a security process that requires two different authentication methods before granting access to an online account or system. Discover the benefits of two-factor-authentication and how to enable it to protect your information.
Protecting Your Finances: Navigating Social Media Safely in the Digital Age
In today's interconnected world, social media platforms have become an integral part of our lives. They help us stay connected with friends and family, share experiences, and even manage our finances. However, the same platforms that bring us together can also pose risks to our cybersecurity and personal information. In this article, we'll explore the intersection of social media and cybersecurity, and provide tips on how to protect yourself and your finances in the digital age.
Guarding Your Finances: A Guide to Shielding Against Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks
In today's interconnected world, safeguarding your financial well-being requires more than just responsible money management; it involves protecting yourself from evolving online threats like social engineering and phishing attacks. This article aims to empower you with knowledge and practical tips to keep your accounts and personal information secure.
Strengthening Your Financial Security: The Importance of Strong Passwords
In today's digital age, safeguarding your financial information is more critical than ever. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect your accounts is by ensuring you have strong, secure passwords in place.
Five Holiday Scams to Avoid
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year, especially as people shop, gather, exchange gifts and travel. Scammers and criminals see it as an opportunity to steal your personal information or try to trick you into sending money. Read this article to learn more about common holiday scams and how to avoid them.
Don't Be Fooled: Know What Information Ent Will Never Ask You For
Here at Ent Credit Union, we go to great lengths to protect our members. A new scam has started affecting some of our members, and we want to help you stay safe. Learn how to protect your financial and personal information online, so you don't have to worry about a stranger taking your money and always be aware of scams. Instead of robbing banks with black hoods over their faces, today’s thieves spend their time scamming everyday consumers and businesses out of their hard-earned money. Suspicious calls, texts, and emails can catch some people off guard, giving fraudsters a chance to drain their bank account.
What is Unemployment Fraud? Unemployment Insurance Fraud on the Rise
Since the pandemic, unemployment insurance fraud has been increasing. If you have been the victim of fraud, read this article for steps to take.
How to Protect your Identity
Be proactive in safeguarding your sensitive, personal and confidential information. Protecting this information makes it difficult for someone to assume your identity to commit fraud or other criminal acts. Focus on best practices in these areas to help keep your information safe:
Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Enhanced Security with MFA Technology
We're routinely enhancing our online security measures to help keep your account safe.
Protect Devices: How-to Protect Your Device from Hackers
Many of us store personal, sensitive and confidential information on our digital devices. This makes them an attractive target for scammers and criminals. Follow best practices in these areas to help keep your devices secure:
Latest resources
How to Spot Financial Grooming Scams
Scammers no longer rely on quick-hit phishing scams; instead, they patiently cultivate online relationships — a tactic investigators call financial grooming. This article unpacks how grooming scams unfold and the red flags to watch for. We also detail the practical actions you and your loved ones can take to shut fraudsters out.
How to Protect Yourself from Spear Phishing Attacks
Cyber threats have become increasingly sophisticated, targeting not just large corporations but individuals as well. Among these threats, the spear phishing attack is one of the most deceptive and damaging. So, what is a spear phishing attack, and how do you protect yourself?
Stay Safe in the End Zone: Avoiding Financial Scams During Football Season
Football season is a time for excitement, cheering on your favorite team, and creating lasting memories with friends and family. However, it's also a time when scammers are on the lookout to take advantage of distracted fans. From fake tickets to fraudulent online offers, football season provides scammers with numerous opportunities to trick unsuspecting victims. By staying alert and knowing how to spot common scams, you can protect your finances while enjoying the game.
Protecting Your Finances: Cybersecurity Best Practices
In today's digital world, protecting your finances has become more challenging than ever. With cybercriminals constantly devising new ways to access personal information and compromise accounts, it’s crucial to stay informed and practice good cybersecurity habits. Whether you're managing your finances online or simply browsing the web, knowing how to safeguard your data can prevent financial loss and protect your personal information from falling into the wrong hands.
Chip Card: What is an EMV Card?
Today, most debit and credit cards have multiple ways to transmit data and authenticate a payment. One such way is the small, square computer chips you see on the card. This is called an EMV chip and is used to help protect the user from fraud. Read this article to learn more about how EMV chips work and how they help keep your information safe.
EMV cards, often referred to as chip cards, represent a significant advancement in credit card security technology. The term “EMV” stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa, the three organizations that created the standard. These cards are equipped with a small, metallic square chip on the front, which is easily recognizable and distinct from the traditional magnetic stripe on the back of older cards. This chip is a critical component of EMV technology, designed to enhance transaction security and reduce fraud.
Bank Scams: What it is, how to prevent it & the different types
According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were 2.6 million fraud reports in 2023, with $10 billion lost to fraud. It can happen to anyone and is never something to be embarrassed about. It is important to recognize though that the first line of defense is you, so being prepared to safeguard your financial safety is crucial. If something happens, the sooner you reach out for help, the better position you’ll put yourself in. These criminals use sophisticated tactics to gain your trust, which is why it's more important than ever to be aware of scams and protect your financial information.
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How to Protect Your Elderly Parents from Financial Scams
Millions of seniors are scammed out of their money every year in the United States. Elderly individuals tend to be more susceptible to financial scams. They also tend to have more assets, including owning a home, financial savings and good credit after a lifetime of work. Older Americans suffering from medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia may also get confused when managing their money. Others may have trouble using the latest technology, including mobile banking apps, email or the internet. Use this guide to protect your aging relatives from scams targeting seniors.
Navigating the New Normal: Software Updates and Working from Home
In our ever-evolving digital landscape, staying informed about software updates, and remote work safety is essential. As our lives continue to be shaped by technology, members must take proactive steps to ensure their financial well-being and data security. In this article, we'll explore the importance of software updates and discuss the challenges and benefits of working from home.
How to Spot Financial Grooming Scams
Scammers no longer rely on quick-hit phishing scams; instead, they patiently cultivate online relationships — a tactic investigators call financial grooming. This article unpacks how grooming scams unfold and the red flags to watch for. We also detail the practical actions you and your loved ones can take to shut fraudsters out.
Multi-factor Authentication Benefits: Why It's Important & How to Set It Up
You have passwords for every online store, financial institution and social media website, yet you were still hacked. How is that even possible? Sadly, this is becoming more and more common, which is why multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become more widespread.
Celebrate World Password Day by Making Yours Stronger
Happy World Password Day from Ent’s Information Security Team! That’s right — there’s a global holiday for that now, and it falls on the first Thursday of May annually. Why? Because password security is that important.
So let’s celebrate by reviewing your password habits and making sure you’re taking the right steps to protect your online accounts and personal information. Just follow these tips to create and manage strong passwords for accessing Ent online banking and your other online accounts.
Protecting Your Finances: Navigating Social Media Safely in the Digital Age
In today's interconnected world, social media platforms have become an integral part of our lives. They help us stay connected with friends and family, share experiences, and even manage our finances. However, the same platforms that bring us together can also pose risks to our cybersecurity and personal information. In this article, we'll explore the intersection of social media and cybersecurity, and provide tips on how to protect yourself and your finances in the digital age.
What are the Benefits of Contactless Cards?
Contactless credit and debit cards are becoming more widely accepted at point-of-sales systems across the country as retailers adopt this form of payment processing. Read this article to learn more about contactless cards, how they work and how they help safeguard your transactions from fraud.
How to Protect Your Identity and Money During Tax Season
It’s tax season in the U.S. You’re likely focused on gathering all the necessary paperwork and submitting your return on time. Meanwhile, in the criminal world, fraudsters are busy executing schemes in an attempt to steal your identity and money. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service identified $2.3 billion in tax fraud in 2020. To help alleviate some stress this tax season, we’ve compiled this guide to help you protect yourself, recognize possible fraud warning signs and take action if you become a victim.
Report Identity Theft: What to Do If Your Identity is Stolen
Protecting your identity and personal information is especially important in today's digital age. Look for suspicious activity like accounts you didn't open or purchases you didn't make. If you suspect you're a target of identity theft, read this article to learn what steps you can take to help protect yourself.
Chip Card: What is an EMV Card?
Today, most debit and credit cards have multiple ways to transmit data and authenticate a payment. One such way is the small, square computer chips you see on the card. This is called an EMV chip and is used to help protect the user from fraud. Read this article to learn more about how EMV chips work and how they help keep your information safe.
EMV cards, often referred to as chip cards, represent a significant advancement in credit card security technology. The term “EMV” stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa, the three organizations that created the standard. These cards are equipped with a small, metallic square chip on the front, which is easily recognizable and distinct from the traditional magnetic stripe on the back of older cards. This chip is a critical component of EMV technology, designed to enhance transaction security and reduce fraud.
Strengthening Your Financial Security: The Importance of Strong Passwords
In today's digital age, safeguarding your financial information is more critical than ever. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect your accounts is by ensuring you have strong, secure passwords in place.
What Is a Phishing Attack? - 5 Ways to Recognize a Phishing Scam
You know scammers are out there, lurking behind friendly, seemingly legitimate emails and text messages. They attempt to get your personal information, often by asking you to click on a link. The link will bring you to a website that looks like a legitimate website, but it only exists solely for fraudulent purposes. Did you know that most phishing scams arrive by email? Just 1% attempt to scam you by phone. How can you recognize a phishing scam so you don’t fall prey to one? There are five common giveaways that an email may not be legitimate.
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