While card payments offer convenience and efficiency, businesses must remain vigilant and proactive to ensure that every transaction is secure and legitimate. Learn how to avoid payment hurdles and boost trust, and how accepting credit cards can help your business grow.
Social media platforms have become a popular and convenient way to discover new brands and products. However, an increasing number of scammers are using these platforms to create fake companies and push nonexistent merchandise to consumers.
When you join a credit union, you join a community. As a member of that community, you get a say as a shared owner of the credit union as well as a host of other benefits, like financial education, events, and discounts!
Your American Heritage account comes with special member prices on tickets, insurance, and more. But did you know about these additional benefits?
We spend a lot of time on our screens — working, playing, shopping, and, of course, banking. Cybercriminals know this and are constantly crafting new ways to access our sensitive information. In this blog, you'll learn about some common financial scams and other social engineering tactics that cyber bad guys use and how to avoid being scammed.
Summer means vacations—at home or abroad—but managing your finances while traveling can sometimes be challenging. Luckily, a variety of tools and services are available to help you keep track of your finances so you can enjoy a worry-free getaway. We’ll show you how to manage your money, save time, and protect your accounts while you’re away from home.
At American Heritage, we are continually looking for ways to provide our members with educational resources and tips that can aid in fighting frauds and scams, including card skimming. Members have access to various account tools to protect themselves against the ongoing and increased scam activity. Tools and digital services available to members include Mobile Teller card controls, eAlerts for each card transaction, and on-demand educational content on the Learning Center.
Do people still carry cash? The answer is a resounding YES. While most transactions can be handled with your digital wallet, credit card, or debit card, cash is still useful, especially in an emergency, when digital or card payment options might not be available. As with most things in life, it’s smart to be prepared. Let’s look at how much cash you should have on hand and how to keep it safe.
‘Tis the season to be wary. The holidays are a busy time for shoppers, travelers, and helping hands. Unfortunately, the cold weather months are also when scammers turn up the heat.
A recent study found that nearly one in four Americans have fallen prey to fraud during the holidays. In this article, we’ll cover seven costly scams that are currently on the rise and offer a few tips for staying safe.
When compared to other financial institutions, credit unions are the masters of keeping members’ funds secure and stable. This is due in no small part to the National Credit Union Administration, which regulates credit unions and provides insurance for member deposits. But what exactly does that mean, and how does it compare to the safeguards in place for banks?
More than 150 million Americans were victims of credit card fraud last year, according to this Security.org's 2023 Credit Card Fraud Report. It’s a serious issue that can impact financial well-being and personal security. Credit card fraud often leads to unauthorized transactions, which may result in financial losses for the victim. Fraudulent activity on credit cards can also negatively affect victims’ credit scores if the unauthorized charges are not resolved promptly. This can make it harder to secure loans or credit in the future and lead to higher interest rates.
In the last five to ten years, large scale data breaches appear to be getting ever more common. It seems like every week, another news story breaks about a large company that fell victim of a data breach. These breaches see millions of users’ personal information compromised, often including usernames and passwords, either encrypted, or in the worst cases, in plain text. While there is little that can be done from a user perspective to prevent data breaches from websites, there are ways to protect yourself from cyber threats, including using strong and unique passwords.
If you’ve been following the news, scams and fraud are seemingly everywhere in our world. Whether over the phone, online, or even in the mail, it seems like there is a new trick to learn every day with regards to fraudsters, and it is important to stay informed about the latest cons to protect yourself and your family.
Millions of people use dating apps or social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram in the hope of finding love. But instead of finding their dream person, they wake up to an empty bank account. In fact, in 2021 alone, the Federal Trade Commission said that losses from romance scams were up nearly 80% from 2020, totaling $547 million.
There are lots of things to look out for when it comes to romance and other online scams. In this blog, we’ll look at some different kinds of scams so you can avoid them and the heartache that can come along with them.
Identity theft can be a devastating crime that victims may not notice until it is already too late. Anyone can become a victim of identity theft, but luckily, anyone can take precautions to protect themselves.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its partners hosted Identity Theft Awareness Week from January 30 through February 3, 2023. Their mission is to raise awareness that any person, of any age or background, can be a target for identity theft.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If someone asks you to invest and promises impossible returns on your money, such as guaranteeing that your money will be doubled or tripled with no risk, it’s probably a Ponzi scheme.
Knowing how to recognize different types of fraud is a key component to financial literacy. There are many types of investment scams, but one of the most famous is known as the Ponzi scheme.
Ghosts, goblins, witches, and vampires – everyone knows All Hallows’ Eve is full of creepy creatures. But the scariest of them all may be scammers who try to trick you into revealing your sensitive personal information. Millions of Americans have their identities stolen or compromised each year, and dealing with the aftermath of identity theft and fraud is no treat.
Whether you’re using a stand-alone ATM, one inside a grocery store, or a drive-through ATM, here are some ATM safety tips that can help keep you, your money, and your financial information safe from would-be criminals.
This week, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (AFCE) holds its annual International Fraud Awareness Week from November 14–20, 2021. The ACFE is the world’s largest anti-fraud organization and works with its partners to provide training and prevention education.
Your smartphone is a fantastic tool. Where else can you stay in touch with friends, make a work call, manage your checking account, and book a vacation – all while on the go? These portable devices make everyday tasks quick and easy, but they certainly carry with them some risk. After all, they’re often used to enter or view personal and financial information, making them prime targets for identity theft and phone scamming.
It’s no surprise the credit and debit cards are so popular. They’re simple, easy to use, and accepted almost everywhere. But this popularity has also made them a common target for thieves and fraudsters. In 2019 alone, more than 270,000 people fell victim to credit card fraud. The consequences can be serious, from financial loss to damage to your credit (not to mention the stress).
