Tips to Avoid Phishing

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.

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.

If you suspect you are being scammed, Ent Credit Union is here to help. Money scams can take many different forms. Criminals may claim to be the government, such as the IRS, or even your local financial institution to con you out of your hard-earned money. There are several ways to find out if you are indeed the victim of a scam. Use this guide to protect yourself from scams online and over the phone.

You can never be too careful when it comes to managing your money. Cybercriminals and digital hackers often use a technique known as “phishing” to get customers like you to turn over their personal data, including PIN numbers, credit and debit cards, bank statements and other financial information. These kinds of cyberattacks can happen to anyone at any time. That’s why it’s important to learn about phishing, so you can protect yourself and your money from online scams.

Chances are that you’ve been the victim of a spoofing attempt by now. Spoofing is a type of cyberattack where someone pretends to be a trusted source so they can gain access to your personal information. In this article, you’ll learn what spoofing is, and more importantly, what you can do to keep your personal information safe.

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.

Most of us know that there are scammers out there, but could you identify one if they called or emailed you? Due to COVID-19, scammers have gotten increasingly clever. Unlike credit card scams where federal law limits your liability to $50, there is no real protection for bank or credit union scams. You could lose thousands of dollars, and you won’t get that money back. Bank scammers can make it look like they are calling from Ent with a fake caller I.D. What can you do to protect yourself from those scammers?

Here at Ent Credit Union, we go to great lengths to protect our members. A new scam has started affecting some of our patrons, 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. 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.

Since the pandemic, unemployment insurance fraud has been increasing. If you have been the victim of fraud, read this article for steps to take. 

Scams can take many forms as fraudsters are always trying to find ways to be more convincing. They take advantage of gaps in financial knowledge, and weak links in the financial system. By keeping an eye out for these red flags, you can see through the schemes and protect your hard-earned money. Keep this tip from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in mind as you read on. 

Don't let thieves steal your card information. Use these tips to help minimize your risk of debit and credit card fraud.

Ent’s online and mobile banking systems offer multiple fast and easy ways to monitor and control access to your account, helping you watch for fraudulent transactions and providing you with piece of mind. The more quickly and easily you can spot a fraudulent transaction – and alert your financial institution to have it resolved – the less stress and impact it could have on your day-to-day financial activity. Here are a few online banking features we recommend for protecting your accounts: