Protect yourself by staying informed about the latest scams and fraud.
Zelle, CashApp, and Venmo are popular money transfer apps that allow you to send and receive money to and from other individuals instantly, just like handing over cash, even if you and your payee have accounts with different financial institutions.
Member Advisory
A January 2022 Pew Research study found that 75% of adults over 65 in the United States are using the internet regularly. This increased use of technology brings a heightened risk of fraud for all Americans. In this article we will address the most prevalent scams that target our senior citizens and provide simple advice on how to protect yourself and your elderly loved ones.
With many Americans holding out hope that their student loan debt will be reduced or forgiven altogether, but also struggling to keep up with the latest news from the federal government, it’s not hard to see why scammers have been so successful. That’s why we are highlighting five ways to protect yourself from fraudsters pretending to have the power to provide you with student debt relief.
We’re stronger together in the fight against fraud, and awareness is our greatest tool. Here are some tips to protect your accounts and personal information against common types of fraud and scams:
Recently there has been a rise in phishing and browser-based scams locally on the Central Coast. Please beware of emails, text messages or browser ad pop-ups that appear to be from Microsoft, with headlines or subject lines such as “MS Security Defender” or “Windows Defender – Security Warning.”
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.
Identity fraud goes in and out of the headlines with regularity, and while it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with the most current scams, we frequently hear updates from various news sources about guarding our identities. The latest scams are putting our children’s identities at risk. This month, we will focus on ways to protect the kids in your life from identity fraud.
Did you know that your credit score can be one more indicator of identity theft? Your credit score is typically used as an indicator of your experience using credit, and is obtained by potential lenders, landlords, and employers as an important indicator of how you have used debt in the past.
While owners of vulnerable transaction terminals try to secure their devices, and law enforcement continues to shut down these criminal enterprises, you can also play a part in stopping card fraud and identity theft. Follow these steps to detect when a card terminal may be at risk, and if you see something, say something!
SESLOC’s 2024 Shred Day events break nine years of records by serving 746 visitors and shredding nearly 42,000 pounds of paper! Thanks to our members who attended the events at our San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles and Santa Maria branches, plus our new Lompoc event location. In total, we recycled 133 total bins with about 21 tons of shredded paper— saving 357 trees, 147,000 gallons of water, 63 cubic yards of landfill space, and 84,000 kilowatts of electricity!
On Friday, October 11, SESLOC returned to Pacific Beach High School in San Luis Obispo for a second year to engage 55 students in the Bite of Reality simulation. This hands-on event immerses students in a realistic budgeting app, providing them with valuable insights into managing finances. Through interactive scenarios, participants learn to navigate the distinction between needs and wants, equipping them with essential budgeting skills for real life.
We’re partnering with News Channel 12 to honor nonprofit volunteers who make our community thrive. Each month, we’re choosing a different nonprofit and asking them to select a valuable volunteer to receive the SESLOC Cares for Community Award. We’re thrilled to introduce Len Hoskins, from the DANA Adobe.
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and we’re offering tips, webinars, and services to help make the internet safer and more secure.
We’re partnering with News Channel 12 to honor nonprofit volunteers who make our community thrive. Each month, we’re choosing a different nonprofit and asking them to select a valuable volunteer to receive the SESLOC Cares for Community Award. We’re thrilled to introduce David Cook, from Community Partners in Caring.
The workers are sooo nice and friendly!!"
English
Spanish