Category: Security

  Fraudsters will look for opportunities to take advantage of people, especially during times of increased stress. As a reminder, America First representatives will never ask for your PIN. We also will never reach out to you over the phone or via email to request sensitive information, such as your Social Security or account numbers. If you receive any messaging that asks you to do this, please forward it to phishing@americafirst.com and we will take the necessary steps to request the site to be taken down in a timely manner. Additional steps that you can take to spot a scam and keep…

Although many of us are more carefree and active during the summer season, we’re still constantly online. And every Internet connection your make—whether you’re shopping for some camping gear or using social media to connect with friends on the weekend, you’re vulnerable to cyberattacks. Follow these tips to help avoid problems:  Create smart, strong passwords. Incorporate capital letters, numbers & symbols in your phrase that should be more than six characters long, such as: Go1dM!n3. Email wisely. Be careful about what you provide in these messages. Never send your credit card information, Social Security number, or other private data via email.…

To keep your electronic space safe & secure, you can take advantage of the following tips to remove clutter, upgrade technologies–a digital spring cleaning. Get rid of excess files. Go through your folders, including the recycle bin, and discard unused items. Organize media in labeled files. Streamline your desktop so it’s not inundated with icons that slow you down. Uninstall old programs that haven’t been loaded in ages, reducing the potential for malware. Create unique & strong passwords with a mix of characters and numbers. Back up important data. And please visit us here to learn more about safeguarding your resources.

Cybercriminals & their schemes, which seek to rob you of your resources, seem to proliferate during tax season. The Internal Revenue Service is warning consumers that several threats have been reported across the country. Being aware of them and maintaining vigilance in protecting your personal data is always essential, no matter the time of year. Here are some examples of recent scams: Identity thieves sent phishing emails to tax preparation firms. The messages purported to come from a company human resources executive, requesting employees’ W-2s. Never provide your personal information to anyone but your trusted tax advisor if you hire…

We offer exclusive member discounts on a range of identity theft recovery plans. And if you have one of our Visa® credit cards, you’ll automatically get basic coverage for free! This fully managed service includes: ∙ An advocate dedicated to your case ∙ Fraud alerts at the three major credit bureaus ∙ Document replacement & transaction remediation ∙ Continuous credit monitoring ∙ Applicable to IRS-qualified dependents ∙ Many additional benefits If you’re not carrying Visa from America First, apply today. To learn more about ID theft recovery or to purchase upgraded protection, visit us here.

Many find online holiday shopping more convenient than slogging through traffic, looking for parking & dealing with crowds. At the same time, you need to be on your guard when you make purchases electronically. Follow the tips below to keep the season a safe one: Ensure antivirus software is on all of your devices Check that the vendor uses a secure site Read sales, return, and privacy policies Keep your receipts For additional updates regarding how we’re working to protect your resources, click here.

The holidays are nearly here and while many of our thoughts turn to giving, online thieves are focused on how much they can take, with a host of schemes to rob us of our information, money & seasonal good cheer. Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a victim during this time of year: ∙ Mobile SMS fraud -- Sent via text, these messages contain dangerous links encouraging you to update or install an app, infecting your device with malware. ∙ Shopping schemes -- Too-good-to-be true offers and steep discounts on must-have items may originate from phony sites. You could also encounter fake…