Safety Tips Blog
Scam Alert: Publisher’s Clearing House Phone Calls
Scammers try to reach the public through all types of media, but nothing is more enticing than someone telling you that you have won money. In the latest alert from the Federal Trade Commission, they warn consumers that scammers have been calling and posing as the...
Consumer Alert: Romance Scams
The accessibility of internet can bring people together, but it is also important to be cautious towards who you connect with online. In time for Valentine's Day, the FBI issued a warning on Romance Scammers: criminals that use publicly accessible personal information...
Consumer and Business Alert: W-2 Phishing Scams
Tax season is upon us, and with it comes new scams affecting both business owners and employees. Read more about the W-2 phishing scams below. Dangerous W-2 Phishing Scam Evolving; Targeting Schools, Restaurants, Hospitals, Tribal Groups and Others IRS: Scam Blends...
Consumer Alert: Bill Payment Scam
The FTC alerts consumers of an alarming new trend: scammers posing as a government agency that pays monthly bills in exchange for an upfront payment. These scammers particularly target African American church communities. There is no government program that requests a...
Consumer Alert: Employment Scams Target College Students
Starting off your career path is a stressful time for everyone, even without having to deal with the potential scams that flood the entry level job market. Scammers have been known to target college students specifically by posting on college job listing websites or...
Customer Alert: Yahoo customer service scam
January 3, 2017 by Andrew Johnson Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Need to contact Yahoo customer care? There are a few ways to do so — but, Yahoo warns that phone is not an option. That’s right: any phone number you come across in an internet search, claiming to...
There’s an app for that (but it might be fake) – Consumer Alert from the FTC
By: Ari Lazarus Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Reposted from: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/theres-app-it-might-be-fake As more and more consumers are shopping with mobile apps, fraudsters are following the money. There are fake phone apps popping up that...
Turning Tax Time into Savings Time
When it comes to tax time, it’s probably safe to assume that most folks aren’t thinking about savings. But that’s exactly what we at Southern Bancorp had on our mind in 2016 when we unveiled the Split, Save and Win sweepstakes aimed at encouraging people to save a...
What to do if you’re the victim of a data breach
Today's high-tech world calls for an ever increasing vigilance on the part of both businesses and consumers when it comes to keeping personal and financial data safe. Part of that vigilance is knowing what to do if you ever find yourself the victim of a data breach or...
FDIC Consumer News – A Bank Customer’s Guide to Cybersecurity
Inside this Winter 2016 issue of FDIC Consumer News: What consumers can do and what banks and regulators are doing to help prevent online fraud and theft. Safety precautions for Internet Banking or shopping How to avoid identity theft online The roles of banks and the...
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