SCAM ALERT! June 22, 2023 | Our members have alerted us to two scams happening right now. One is from a group called PTSO saying they are working "hand-in-hand" with Green Country on disaster recovery efforts. The other is for mortgage refinance or forbearance through a group called Optimus. Neither group is legitimate. Do not [...]
How To Avoid Being Scammed After a Natural Disaster In the wake of natural disasters, scammers are known to seek out victims amongst the wreckage. From home contractors who don’t deliver what they promise to fraudulent charities and even outright theft, it’s especially important to be vigilant after disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and [...]
Traveling This Summer? Let Us Know Before You Go We’re always watching for possible fraud on your debit card, so please notify us when and where you will be traveling. Also, make sure we have your current cell phone number, so we can contact you if suspicious activity is detected on your account. If we [...]
Be aware of the latest scam activity We’ve recently seen digital money movement fraud on the rise. A scammer can contact you requesting payment through a Wire Transfer or transfer via Zelle – these methods allow money to be sent quickly, and the funds are often hard to trace and recover. You should never wire [...]
Mobile Payments & Banking Tips Cybersecurity Tips to Keep You Safe More and more frequently, consumers are using their mobile devices for online banking, payments, and shopping. We can now check our bank account balances, deposit a check using a mobile device’s camera, pay bills, transfer money between friends, and make purchases directly on our [...]
10 ways to spend less when shopping online Get what you need without overpaying—or being tricked into overbuying. Key takeaways Retail sites have features that entice you to buy more than you need, but savvy shopping can help you stick to a budget. These tips and habits—including staying focused, carefully timing purchases, and factoring in [...]
Common types of scams Scammers are constantly finding new ways to steal your money. You can protect yourself by knowing what to look out for. Here are some of the most common types of frauds and scams. Learn what to watch for and what steps to take to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your [...]
Scam Alert: Disputing Large Purchases Recently, there has been a rise in email fraud where a scammer poses as a major retailer, luring unsuspecting people with claims that an expensive purchase was made by them. The email will give a number to call if the email recipient doesn't recognize or wants to dispute the purchase. [...]
Solving the Mystery of Credit Reports MARCH FINANCIAL EDUCATION WEBINAR Credit report scores hold a lot of power—they can help buy that first home but can also take away financial opportunities. This informative webinar provides an overview of credit bureaus, credit scoring, guidance to dispute inaccuracies, improving credit scores, and dealing with identity theft and [...]
5 Tips For Keeping Your Children Safe Online The Internet is an incredible tool to expand knowledge and information exchange for adults and children alike. but there are pitfalls This short paper will provide you with tips to help your children safely use the internet, benefitting from the positives and helping to avoid the negatives. [...]
We have had reports of members receiving calls using Green Country's name and/or number on the caller ID but turning out to be a scam call for the IRS. A reminder: Green Country will NOT call you and ask you to verify your personal financial information. Unfortunately it's fairly easy for someone to use a [...]
Classic warning signs of possible fraud and scams There are several signs that indicate you might be dealing with a scammer. They include contact from someone: Calling or emailing you, claiming to be from the government and asking you to pay money. Asking you to pay money or taxes upfront to receive a prize or [...]
Fraud & Scam Resources Losing money or property to scams and fraud can be devastating. But there are many resources to help you prevent, recognize, and report scams and fraud. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly. [...]
Fraud and Scams Glossary Want to learn more? Visit the CFPB online. Elder financial exploitation Elder financial exploitation is the illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds, property, or assets. It is the most common form of elder abuse, but only a small fraction of incidents are reported.The perpetrators can be strangers who [...]
Money Missteps - A Great Thing to Happen to a Kid? You Spent Your Money on What?! Any parent with a child old enough to have control over money has probably at least thought that, if not shouted it across a dinner table. While the outrage at a teenager spending an entire pile of birthday [...]
What to do if you see something wrong on your credit report Under the FCRA, both the credit reporting company and the information provider (that is, the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a credit reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage [...]
As the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out continues, it’s important to be on the lookout for scams. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) recently issued a new warning about vaccine scams: Beware of scams offering early access to vaccines for a fee. Keep an eye out for phishing scams where scammers email or text you with phony [...]
Online Shopping Safety In today's electronic world, it is extremely easy to shop and purchase goods or services on your computer, without ever leaving your home. Certainly, there are many benefits — cyber storefronts are always open and bargains are abundant. It is simple to comparison shop with the click of your mouse, and sellers [...]
Tips for safe Cyber Monday shopping (or really any day) Are you one of the many shoppers planning to click for holiday gifts this year? Don’t let the numerous Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and distractions cloud your judgment. It’s always important to pay attention to signs that your online shopping transactions are secure. [...]
5 tips for social media security and privacy Social media accounts are powerful tools in the wrong hands. We’ve recently seen hackers take over the Twitter accounts of media outlets and large corporations, using them for anything from basic spam to drawing attention to global issues. Your own accounts might seem too small to tempt [...]
In the modern world, almost everyone holds a credit card. Reportedly, 7 in 10 American’s have at least one credit card and there are 364 million open credit card accounts in the U.S. as of November 2018. The reach and popularity of credit cards have made it a major target of fraudsters out there. Many [...]
