We want to alert you to social media scams that you may not be thinking about. Being alert to potential scams is the best way to protect yourself against fraud and identity theft.
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Cybersecurity
Look Out for Child Tax Credit Advance Scams
Recently, the first payments for the Child Tax Credit Advance from The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 went out to qualified recipients. Shortly after, the IRS warned recipients about an increasing number of social engineering scam attempts.
Scams: What’s Old is New Again
According to this article posted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “The FTC knows that people who talk about scams are much less likely to fall for them. So, when people of any age are on their own too much, they don’t have the chance to talk things out. And when scammers — who are calling, emailing, and texting — might be a person’s main source of contact, nothing good happens next.”
The Rise of Digital Wallets and Contactless Transactions
A digital wallet (also called a “mobile wallet”) is an electronic method of securely storing and using your credit cards – and other types of cards, tickets, and coupons – so you don’t have to carry these items physically with you. Instead, you use your iPhone, Android smartphone, or other smart device to make contactless transactions in stores, restaurants, drive-thrus, movie theatres, and more.
Tax Fraud: The IRS Dirty Dozen List
The Criminal Investigation (CI) unit is a special criminal division of the IRS. The CI is tasked with investigating and uncovering tax-related crimes and prosecuting these cases. Each year the CI provides the IRS an annual report detailing the work of the CI and highlighting their successes and enforcements related to tax and financial crimes.
Top 10 Identity Theft Myths
In today’s world it is more important than ever to focus on the things that we can control to better safeguard our financial future. It’s easy to get complacent, lulled into a false sense of security, when there are many other more urgent things to think about.
Beware of Sweetheart Scams
Sweetheart scams, also known as romance scams, are becoming increasingly common as people seek out connections online. The FTC reports that Americans lost over $209 million to sweetheart scams in 2019 — which is 40% more than reported the previous year.
Synthetic Identity Theft
The holidays are upon us, and so is the increase in risk for identity theft. Fictional characters are a big part of the season, but sadly they’ve also become a big part of identity thieves’ tool kits as well. According to a Federal Trade Commission Report, over the last five years, Synthetic Identity Fraud has become the fastest-growing type of financial crime in the United States and accounts for 20% of the credit-related losses.
Online Holiday Shopping — Buyer Beware!
The rise of online shopping during the pandemic has led to a proportional increase in online fraud and scams. As the Holiday season approaches, we want to make sure you are armed with the knowledge and the skills to protect yourself. With a little awareness, you can avoid online shopping fraud as the busiest time of the year for retail shopping is shifting into high gear.
The Dark Web — A Gateway to Criminal Activity
We’ve recently taken a deep dive into the dangers of the Dark Web. We continue our series by shedding light on how transactions happen in the Dark Web and the criminal enterprise that exists in this mysterious, hidden place. Why is this important? The more you understand about how criminal activity works, the better prepared you will be to protect yourself and your family from this growing threat.
Recent News
5 Ways to Level Up & Save More
Consider making moves to Level Up, with our new member benefits program.¹ Increasing benefits include select fee waivers, waived check orders, and rate discounts on new eligible consumer loans — all of which can help you save even more money and get ahead financially.
FAQs: Level Up Member Benefits Program
Here are the answers to common questions about Level Up, our new member benefits program.¹ Have more questions? Call us at (805) 543-1816 or visit any SESLOC branch:
SESLOC Takes Home Two Top Honors
SESLOC is pleased to announce that we have received two prestigious awards this year. The recognition we have earned serves as a testament to our commitment to excellence and dedication to providing exceptional financial services to our valued member-owners. We are proud to share this achievement with you, as it highlights our ongoing efforts to deliver top-tier products and services that meet and exceed the financial needs of our community.
Reduction in Overdraft Fees: Helping Members Save Today, and Everyday
SESLOC is pleased to announce that as of November 1, 2024, there has been a reduction in overdraft fees. This change is part of our commitment to providing cost-effective solutions for our membership and community. These savings will be extended to members but will have the greatest impact on those facing financial challenges, who need a break from fees to begin saving and building healthy financial habits.
2024 Shred Days Smash Records While Supporting the Local Community
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!