Blogging with Kerri

With the prevalence of scams targeting seniors continuing to rise, it’s important for everyone to take proactive steps in protecting their older friends, family, and neighbors from falling victim.

Receiving an unexpected call about fraud on your account from a number that appears to be originating from our credit union, or another financial institution, can be alarming.

Fraud occurring through Cash App, Venmo, and other similar Mobile Payment Apps is becoming more prevalent. Make sure you do not send money to someone you do not know and trust via a Mobile Payment App.

Have you ever received a package you didn’t order? While it might seem like a harmless mistake, it could be a Brushing Scam.

A data breach occurs when a business or organization is hacked and a scammer steals a customer's personal data, such as credit and debit card numbers.

Recently, many consumers have become victims of scams involving fraudulent checks. Checks have become an attractive vehicle for fraud when used for payments to consumers.

When we see an update alert, many of us tend to hit “Remind me later.” Think twice before delaying a software update!

MFA provides extra security for our online accounts and apps. This security could be a code sent via text or email or generated by an app, or biometrics like fingerprints and facial recognition.

Telephone scams include phone calls, robocalls, and text messages aimed at stealing your personal information or asking you to send large amounts of money.

If you’re a friend or family member of a Maine senior, asking yourself these questions and recognizing the red flags may help you in preventing or responding to elder financial abuse

Be aware that fraudulent letters are circulating in Maine regarding your home's warranty. The letter will claim that your home warranty with Connected Credit Union will expire soon if you do not take immediate action.

Scammers may ask you for your online banking information and promise to send you money by depositing it straight into your account for you. This is a scam!

Protect yourself from fraud by learning to recognize the common red flags of popular scams, such as fear tactics and unusual payment requests.

Protect yourself from fraud by learning how to avoid popular scams, such as imposter scams and prize scams.

If you get an unsuspected call from someone claiming to be a family member or friend asking you for money to help them out of an emergency, take pause before acting! This could be a scam.

A leading cause of unauthorized access to accounts is the reuse of login credentials. If you use the same password for every account you have, a single account breach can grant a fraudster access to all of them.

Learn how to protect yourself from fraud with simple steps like safeguarding personal information, recognizing suspicious activity, and staying informed about the latest scams.

Skimming is the practice of fraudsters placing a popular tool called a skimmer over a legitimate card reader to steal your credit and debit card information. Scammers often put skimmers on public and easily accessible card readers at places such as gas stations or ATMs.

Did you know that scammers may pretend to be the IRS claiming you owe taxes or asking you to verify your personal information? We break down how you can protect yourself this tax season.

Watch out for tax scams that impersonate the IRS, demand immediate payment, or ask for sensitive personal information. Know the signs to stay safe this tax season.

Using your credit card online can be scary, especially with so many different types of scams and phishing attempts online trying to steal your information. We’ve got some tips and tricks to help you use your credit card to shop safely, online. 

Prize scams are scams where fraudsters attempt to gain personal information or money by saying that you have won a fake prize or by tempting you to give up your personal information to enter a contest.

Connected Credit Union has seen an increase in scams targeting our members over the past month. The newest scam is a phone scam where members are told that Connected Credit Union is being investigated by a federal agency.

A brute force attack occurs when fraudsters use trial and error to gain your card information after infiltrating a merchant's payment system.

Phishing scams are emails sent by scammers that attempt to steal your personal information or download malware onto your computer or device.

Identity theft happens when a scammer has stolen your personal information and pretends to be you to apply for credit or make purchases.

Stay protected by recognizing common card scams and knowing how to respond if your card information is compromised.

When choosing a new password, avoid simple passwords that can be easily hacked. For example, your password shouldn't include birthdays, family members' names, phone numbers, etc.

Social media scams often appear as impersonation accounts or suspicious links. Learn how to spot the signs and keep your accounts and money safe.

If you use a personal finance app, such as RobinHood, CashApp, Venmo, Paypal, and more, there are some important steps you can take to protect your personal data.

Learn how to recognize the warning signs of online banking scams and keep your accounts secure.