As summer approaches, many of you are preparing to spend the season away from Florida, enjoying cooler temperatures in your home states. While packing your bags and planning travel routes are important, it’s just as essential to ensure your finances are in order before you go. With a little preparation, you can bank with ease …
Beware of the Unpaid Toll Text Scams
Got a Text About Unpaid Tolls? It’s Probably a Scam Have you received a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls? Whether you’ve driven on a toll road recently or not, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. Scammers are impersonating toll agencies nationwide, sending out fake texts demanding payment. If you’re not careful, …
How to Spot IRS Scams and Impersonators
9 Ways to Spot IRS Scams and Impersonators (And How to Stay Safe) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is one of the most commonly impersonated government agencies in scams. Fraudsters use fear tactics, phishing emails, and threatening phone calls to trick taxpayers into revealing sensitive financial information or making fraudulent payments. How to Recognize IRS …
A Digital Nightmare: Cybercriminals Inside Your Home
Sarah and her family were thrilled with their new smart home devices, enjoying the ease of controlling lights and locks with just a few taps or voice commands. However, their excitement turned to alarm one night when Sarah noticed her smart thermostat adjusting itself unexpectedly. Initially dismissing it as a glitch, she became concerned when …
Roses, Romance, and Red Flags: Protecting Your Heart and Wallet
What Are Romance Scams? Romance scams are a cruel form of deception where criminals exploit the desire for love and connection while gaining the affection and trust of the victim. They craft online personas, often using stolen pictures and profiles, to build a facade of affection. Their goal? To manipulate victims into parting with money …
Staying Safe Online and Shielding Your Accounts
A Slick Scam and an Empty Bank Account Emily was having a typical busy Tuesday. She grabbed her morning coffee, glanced at her phone, and noticed a text from her bank: “Did you make this transaction? Reply YES or NO.” She frowned. She hadn’t made any purchases yet that day. Maybe it was just a …
Holiday Travel Preparedness: Cyber Safety Tips for a Secure Vacation
The holiday season is here, and millions of people will be traveling all over the world. If you are going on vacation, here are some travel tips to help keep you cyber savvy and safe. Mobile Devices Avoid overpacking: Only bring the mobile devices you need when going on vacation. By mobile devices, we mean …
Voice Cloning Scams: Unmasking the Threat to Security and Trust
The Alarming Rise of Voice Cloning in Fraudulent Activities The use of voice cloning by fraudsters to commit crimes has seen a disturbing increase in recent years. This advanced technology allows scammers to replicate an individual’s speech patterns, tone, and mannerisms with uncanny accuracy. As a result, they can use these cloned voices to manipulate …
Change of Address for the Winter
Heading south for the winter or taking an extended vacation? Here are essential tips to safeguard your mail and information: Contact your financial institution: Not all institutions forward bank statements, like FineMark. Ensure to inform your bank of any forwarded mail status to avoid the return of your statements. Notify mail carriers at both your …
Combating Check Fraud: Insights from Our Fraud Specialist
Combating Check Fraud: Insights from Our Fraud Specialist Check fraud poses a significant threat in today’s banking landscape, demanding vigilance from financial institutions. Our team examines every check that meets certain criteria for potential fraud, such as questionable endorsements or irregular signatures. When something is deemed suspicious, action is taking immediately to help thwart possible …
Apple ID Scam
If you have an iphone, we have a serious threat to share with you, targeting Apple IDs. Security experts have uncovered a sophisticated text messaging campaign, designed to trick you into sharing your Apple ID credentials. Here’s how the scam works, hackers send out text messages that look like they’re really from Apple. The messages …
Beware of Bitcoin ATM Scams
Scammers are incredibly savvy when it comes to finding ways to steal your money and we are seeing a new wave of fraud involving cryptocurrency. The tactics are like other scams, only now the fraudsters are demanding payment in cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin. They pose as reputable companies like Amazon, Microsoft, or even your bank, …
