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.
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.
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.
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.
Criminals use the Dark Web, an anonymous region of the internet, for buying and selling stolen identity information, among other things. But what does this have to do with you?
You have probably heard people talk about the mysterious “Dark Web” where criminals gather to commit fraudulent acts that result in financial fraud, identity theft and more. But most people don’t really understand what the Dark Web is or how it works. Let’s start with a few facts about the Internet itself.
Scammers are always looking for innovative ways to separate you from your money. Whether their goal is to gain access to your cash, or to gain control of your personal information so they can commit fraud, they frequently play on psychological manipulation to get you to comply. Here some common scams to be aware of:
Identity theft is the illegal use of another’s personal data, such as name, birth date and Social Security number. A casually discarded receipt, a personal document or checkbook kept in a desk drawer, mail theft, and dumpster diving are all very real threats.
SESLOC provides several methods to reduce the risk of fraud. Here are some additional steps you can take to keep from becoming a victim:
Have you checked your credit report recently? Or ever? Shelli* was doing everything right, but something was dragging down her score — it just didn’t make sense. So she ordered her credit report and found the culprit. There was a delinquent credit card from an account she owned with an ex years ago. She had been removed from it a long time ago, but there it was.
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!
On Friday, October 11, SESLOC returned to Pacific Beach High School in San Luis Obispo for a second year to engage 55 students in the Bite of Reality simulation. This hands-on event immerses students in a realistic budgeting app, providing them with valuable insights into managing finances. Through interactive scenarios, participants learn to navigate the distinction between needs and wants, equipping them with essential budgeting skills for real life.
Did you know that recycling one ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, and 4,000 kilowatts of electricity? Thanks to members at this year’s SESLOC’s Shred Days at our SLO, Atascadero and Santa Maria branches, we recycled 113 total bins with 17.79 tons of shredded paper— saving 302 trees, 124,530 gallons of water, 53.37 cubic yards of landfill space, and 71,160 kilowatts of electricity!
SESLOC Credit Union is thrilled to introduce the Instant Funds loans, a new short-term, small-dollar loans program designed to support individuals in need of emergency financial assistance. Keeping the credit union philosophy of “people helping people” in mind, we are introducing this product to ensure there is financial support for the underserved and underbanked in the Central Coast community.
On Friday, May 24, over 120 student leaders participating in the Week of Welcome (WOW) program were enriched by a financial wellness workshop hosted by SESLOC at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) campus in San Luis Obispo. The purpose of SESLOC and Cal Poly providing this workshop was to educate WOW leaders in practical and relevant financial education