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…

Online security is important for your financial health, no matter the time of year. We’re here to provide you with some simple steps you can take to keep yourself safe during the busy fall months. • Malicious greetings -- Emails often invite recipients to click on a card, video, or animation. While some are harmless, cybercriminals can imbed viruses and spyware in them; open all file attachments and URLs with care. • Phishing for friends -- Social media is often where phishing attacks take place. Think twice about adding friends you don’t really know and never divulge personal data to anyone online.…