Southern Blog
Consumer and Business Alert: W-2 Phishing Scams
Tax season is upon us, and with it comes new scams affecting both business owners and employees. Read more about the W-2 phishing scams below. Dangerous W-2 Phishing Scam Evolving; Targeting Schools, Restaurants, Hospitals, Tribal Groups and Others IRS: Scam Blends...
Consumer Alert: Bill Payment Scam
The FTC alerts consumers of an alarming new trend: scammers posing as a government agency that pays monthly bills in exchange for an upfront payment. These scammers particularly target African American church communities. There is no government program that requests a...
Consumer Alert: Employment Scams Target College Students
Starting off your career path is a stressful time for everyone, even without having to deal with the potential scams that flood the entry level job market. Scammers have been known to target college students specifically by posting on college job listing websites or...
Customer Alert: Yahoo customer service scam
January 3, 2017 by Andrew Johnson Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Need to contact Yahoo customer care? There are a few ways to do so — but, Yahoo warns that phone is not an option. That’s right: any phone number you come across in an internet search, claiming to...
There’s an app for that (but it might be fake) – Consumer Alert from the FTC
By: Ari Lazarus Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Reposted from: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/theres-app-it-might-be-fake As more and more consumers are shopping with mobile apps, fraudsters are following the money. There are fake phone apps popping up that...
Turning Tax Time into Savings Time
When it comes to tax time, it’s probably safe to assume that most folks aren’t thinking about savings. But that’s exactly what we at Southern Bancorp had on our mind in 2016 when we unveiled the Split, Save and Win sweepstakes aimed at encouraging people to save a...
What to do if you’re the victim of a data breach
Today's high-tech world calls for an ever increasing vigilance on the part of both businesses and consumers when it comes to keeping personal and financial data safe. Part of that vigilance is knowing what to do if you ever find yourself the victim of a data breach or...
FDIC Consumer News – A Bank Customer’s Guide to Cybersecurity
Inside this Winter 2016 issue of FDIC Consumer News: What consumers can do and what banks and regulators are doing to help prevent online fraud and theft. Safety precautions for Internet Banking or shopping How to avoid identity theft online The roles of banks and the...
12 Tips to Secure your Mobile Devices
In honor of National Consumer Protection Week, we'd like to share with you a couple of quick tips to keep you, your identity, and your finances stay safe in this increasingly technological world. The American Bankers Association (aba.com) has released these to the...
Debit Card Safe Practices
Debit cards are a great way to pay for your purchases online and in stores. Here are some ways you can safeguard against debit card fraud: Do not keep your card and your PIN together. If possible, memorize your PIN and do not write it down. Keep your card...