Taking control of your financial health starts with education.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, between July 2020 and June 2021, 96,000 reports of “Amazon impersonation” were filed. Six thousand of the targeted individuals lost money in the scam, with reported losses totaling more than $27 million. The real numbers are likely to be significantly higher, because not all instances of fraud and attempted fraud are reported.
As the world continues to react to the virus, scammers are adapting their techniques to steal your money. With the increase in the number of transactions with the IRS this year (including child tax credit pre-payments, economic stimulus payments, and federal unemployment), the door has also become more widely open to thieves attempting to steal your tax benefits and your identity.
In October 2021, we sent out our second Member Pulse Survey, where we asked our valued SESLOC members about their local shopping and spending habits. 853 responded, revealing four key insights into local spending:
Thinking about a new or “new to you” car? Having a reliable set of wheels is a crucial part of our daily lives, but it’s also a big financial decision that will likely impact your budget for the next several years. You know you’ll need to protect your ride with car insurance, and maybe even get a AAA membership, but are you aware of these programs that give you financial peace of mind?
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), tax scams tend to increase during tax season and/or times of crisis.¹ Now that tax season is in full swing, the IRS is reminding taxpayers to use caution and avoid becoming the victim of a fraudulent tax scheme. Here are some of the most common tax scams to watch out for.
Now it’s time to take steps after the relief programs end. Borrowers should be ready to make student loan payments, even as policymakers discuss further extensions in the face of an increased number of borrowers becoming delinquent or defaulting on their loans. Listed here are steps to move forward as protections end:
Identity theft continues to be more than just a costly headache. Once the bad guys have your identity information they can make repeated attempts to try to access your accounts, apply for credit in your name, and even steal your tax refund. This month we’re going to dig into some lesser-known, proactive steps you can take in the new year to protect yourself from becoming the target of identity fraud.
Your Business Online Banking Account is a critical part of your operations, so it’s important to periodically review and update access controls. Here are a few tips for maintaining a secure account: 1. Update Your Password
For many years, research has shown that women in the U.S. are approved for less than men when they apply for credit products and are more likely to be denied outright. Perhaps because of this, women also put off applying for credit when compared to men, even when they need it to get on solid financial ground.
When you’re just starting out, there’s a lot to learn about your finances and it can definitely feel overwhelming — but we’re here to help. We recently sat with some local college students to talk money, and here are the answers to their questions:
We’ve asked our incredible staff to nominate their favorite 501-(c)(3)-designated organizations. Here are the eight groups we’ve selected for November:
As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we’re building a more sustainable community for the next 80 years by doing 80 local acts that have a global impact.
We’ve asked our incredible staff to nominate their favorite 501-(c)(3)-designated organizations. Here are the eight groups we’ve selected for August:
As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we’re building a more sustainable community for the next 80 years by doing 80 local acts that have a global impact.
We’ve asked our incredible staff to nominate their favorite 501-(c)(3)-designated organizations. Here are the eight groups we’ve selected for August:
