Privacy & Cybersecurity

Becoming a victim of fraud is unsettling. You may feel violated, scared and unsure how it will affect your financial health. Scams are also getting harder and harder to spot. Arm yourself with the kno...

Facebook Marketplace has become a very popular site for people who are looking to buy and sell items like clothing, used bikes and furniture, or even for those looking to rent an apartment or buy a ca...

The holiday season is quickly approaching and although it’s a wonderful time of year, it also brings scams. Traditionally, the holidays mark a time in which fraudsters ramp up their scams and sc...

Every year, the number of mail theft complaints increase and scammers are continuing to find new ways to steal your unopened mail right out of your mailbox. By getting their hands on your mail, your p...

Successful criminals know how to strike when it is least expected. And in this era of modern digital technology, this age-old truth can spell trouble for business owners who are solely focused on dail...

Digitalization provides many opportunities to streamline tasks and maximize our time on a daily basis, but with the simplicity of life online we must be mindful that risks are present too. And one of ...

Did you know the National Cyber Security Alliance and U.S. Department of Homeland Security marked October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month? The purpose is to raise awareness about the importa...

Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, text messages and phone calls from scammers posing as someone from their bank. And in this time of expanded use of online and mobile ba...

With online scams continuously on the rise, it’s crucial to be aware of the different types of pet scams. Often times, people are lured in by seeing a cute puppy or other pet for sale, only to f...

Today, texting is a major part of our everyday life, and scammers are relying on the ding or vibration of an incoming text message being hard for people to ignore....

Did you know it takes less than 30 seconds for someone to break into a car, steal what is in plain view, check the usual hiding places for any other items, and get away? Most car burglaries happen at ...

It’s an unfortunate reality that older adults are too often attractive targets for financial exploitation because they tend to possess more wealth than other potential victims. According to the ...

Advance Fee Scams involve payment that is typically made using gift cards, wire transfer, pre-loaded debit cards or cryptocurrency, and you are usually promised a much larger sum of money in return....

Have you received some sort of correspondence and it looks like it’s from the Social Security Administration (SSA)? Be sure to take a good hard look at it....

While tax season is a nice time to receive some extra cash from your tax refund, scammers will try to commit financial fraud and it is more common than you may think....

With Valentine’s Day near, love is in the air – and so are romance scams....

Due to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, December has been marked as National Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month....

Believe it or not, it’s that time of year again – the holiday season brings days of building snowmen, sipping hot cocoa, time spent with family and friends and of course, holiday shopping....

Every single one of us lives in a world that’s far more digital than it was 10 years ago. Look around your home and consider just how many devices you own that are connected to the internet....

Buy Now, Pay Later or BNPL is a payment type of short-term financing that enables consumers to make purchases and pay for them at a later date, usually interest-free. This form of payment is also refe...

A Ponzi scheme is a type of investment fraud that uses the funds collected from new investors to pay existing investors. Scammers will promise to invest your money in order to generate high returns wi...

One day you receive a phone call, email, or letter to tell you that you’re the lucky winner of a sweepstakes, lottery, or prize like a new car, laptop or something else!...

From 24/7 access to your accounts through online banking to securely depositing checks using your phone, just about everything you need in order to manage your finances is turning digital....

A money mule is someone who is used to transfer and launder illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else. These scams can happen in several ways and can be related to online dating, work-at-home...

Cryptocurrency is gaining momentum, so much so that a new report found scammers stole a record-breaking $14 billion of crypto last year. By now, you’ve probably heard about it and may be wonderi...

With the major shift that our work force has experienced recently, it is very likely that a lot of us now have a hybrid or fully remote, work from home job....

The national news cycle that followed the recent ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline highlighted just how vulnerable corporations as well as key infrastructure systems are to this kind of crime. Th...

The historic number of unemployment claims filed during the pandemic combined with many antiquated state-run systems created a perfect storm for criminals to steal billions of dollars from states acro...

Computer issues can be frustrating and sometimes you would do just about anything to have them fixed quickly. When this happens, it’s easy to let your guard down and opens the door for you to ca...

Have you ever been out to dinner with friends and when the bill arrives realize you accidentally left your wallet at home? Or stop at a coffee shop that only accepts cash and you don’t have any ...

In this age of digital technology, many of us rely on email to conduct business – both personally and professionally, and there probably isn’t a day that goes by without checking our email...

Tax refund fraud is a common scheme that fraudsters use to not only steal money, but also the identity, personal and financial information of U.S. taxpayers. By obtaining this information, scammers ar...

It's vital to take the necessary steps to protect your personal information. We’re sure you hear that all the time, but it doesn't change the value of the message. Whether or not you are connect...

If it seems like you’re hearing about cybercrime more frequently, that’s because you are. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cybercrime complaints have dou...

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert in August about an unknown malicious cyber actor who is spoofing the Small Business Administration's (SBA) COVID-19 rel...

Did you know people lost $57 million to phishing schemes in 2019? That is a lot of money! And, to protect yourself from this type of crime, you should understand what phishing is and how to identify a...

A drastic increase in Coronavirus related scams is being reported worldwide. These criminal activities are taking advantage of people looking for information about the pandemic, and oft...

Social networks have normalized sharing at a whole new level. People are more connected than ever in a shared online environment where information is in constant circulation....

In this digital age, the best holiday sales are often right at our fingertips and braving large crowds only to end up waiting in line is a stress of the past. Online shopping is the ideal way to make ...

When business takes you away from the office, cybersecurity threats may tag along for the ride. To avoid unwelcome trouble while on the go, take a proactive stance to guard data and educate ...

Whether your travels take you across the globe or across state lines, cybercrime is now part of the reality of planning a safe trip. You may be diligent about cybercrime in your everyday activities, b...

With our dependency on mobile devices and the inevitable depletion of their battery life, it’s highly probable you have used a public charging station to power up your phone or laptop....

With new threats emerging and longstanding ones still an issue, it is important to continually protect your business. A 2017 data threat report from Thales e-Security and analyst firm 451 Research rep...

In our online world, we can take action in a matter of clicks. From making purchases and paying bills, to monitoring accounts and tracking personal data, we’re presented with many opportunities ...

While large firms may have sophisticated technology and staff dedicated to thwarting crime, many small businesses don't — and scammers know this. Here are ways to protect your business:...

October is National Cyber Security Month and our experts are breaking down what you need to know to keep your business safe from a cyberattack....

Every business faces cybersecurity challenges no matter the industry or size, which means proactively protecting your assets and customers should be a priority. No amount of security policies or proce...

From Facebook to Reddit and every platform in between, social media has become the go-to tool for people to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information, purchase products and...

It’s a common misconception that only large-scale corporations with sensitive company or customer information are susceptible to cyber breaches. The findings of a recent Manta survey s...

You can now connect almost anything in your home to the internet — security cameras, baby monitors, televisions, thermostats and heating systems. Residences that are equipped with network-connec...

With all of the news surrounding the recent Equifax breach, you might be wondering if you should freeze your credit. Freezing your credit limits who can see your credit report information, a...

No matter how large or small your business is, your company could be subject to a cyberattack. For cyber criminals, these are low risk attacks that offer high rewards. Being prepared by protecting you...

Your teen may be revealing your family’s personal information by simply searching the Internet for information about a favorite celebrity. Visiting certain sites could expose your computer or pe...

Traveling is a great time to see new places and have new experiences with family and friends. And when we travel, many of us take along our mobile devices. This can put us at more risk of having our p...

Banking on your mobile device is easy and convenient. You can deposit a check, pay bills and check your balance from anywhere as long as your mobile device has service. There’s no doubt that ban...

The next time you receive a frantic call from someone saying they are your grandchild and asking for money, make sure it’s actually your grandchild who’s calling....

Older Americans are increasingly becoming popular targets for lottery and sweepstake scams. According to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, lottery scams rank second on the list of fraud offe...

Realizing that your credit, debit, or ATM cards might be stolen or hearing the news that a store you shop at often has suffered a data breach is definitely troublesome. Your first instinct might be to...

If you’re like me, your inbox is filled with junk mail and your phone rings constantly with calls peddling everything from pest control to energy savings plans. This doesn’t have to be the...

A relatively sophisticated scam called masquerading has emerged and the FBI estimates that losses to businesses as a result of this fraud were more than $1.2 billion worldwide. That number could be mu...

You work hard to keep your children safe and healthy from the moment they are born. Childproofing the house, cleaning cuts and scrapes, teaching them to look both ways before crossing the street, maki...

Electronic services like online banking, e-bill pay, e-statements, mobile banking apps, and mobile deposits have made it more convenient than ever to manage your finances. However, you must take preca...

Smartphones are changing the way we bank, do business, and stay in touch with friends and family. And while these products do make our lives easier and more enjoyable, they can also leave you vulnerab...

Last year, more than 75 million taxpayers used individual software solutions to file their taxes. Taxpayers using these do-it-yourself tax preparation and financial planning products are currently the...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. That is an alarming number of victims. Identity theft occurs when someone uses yo...

As an increasing number of consumers shop online this holiday season, there is a greater need than ever to protect against costly phishing and cyber scams, according to the National Cyber Security and...