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Pack Your Cybersecurity Tips for Vacation
June 3, 2022
Categories: Consumer Tips, Cybersecurity, Fraud Prevention, General
Criminals never take a vacation. When planning a vacation, pack these cybersecurity tips for safe travels:
Keep all of your devices up-to-date, including anti-virus protection. If you are traveling for work, know your company’s information security policies related to traveling with various work devices that may contain sensitive information. Traveling by car? Keep electronics out of sight, and be sure that your vehicle is locked. Flying? Review travel restrictions and prepare... Read More -
Beware of Tax Identity Theft
January 26, 2022
Categories: Business Fraud, Business Tips, Consumer Tips, Cybersecurity, Fraud Prevention, General
Tax identity theft is when someone uses your Social Security number to steal your tax refund or for work. People often discover tax identity theft when they file their tax returns. Use these tips to protect yourself this tax season and beyond:
Protect documents with sensitive information.
Safeguard all tax records, Social Security cards, and other financial documents in a safe place. Shred and destroy all financial records when you dispose of them. Protect... Read More -
Can You Spot a Phishing Scam?
October 4, 2021
Categories: Business Fraud, Business Tips, Consumer Tips, Cybersecurity, Fraud Prevention, General
Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. And in this time of expanded use of online banking, the problem is only growing worse. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission’s report on fraud estimates that American consumers lost a staggering $3.3 billion to these phishing schemes and other fraud in 2020—that’s nearly double what was lost in 2019.
It’s time to put scammers in their place.
Online... Read More
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Hello, Grandma? Hello, Grandpa?
September 21, 2021
Categories: Community, Consumer Tips, Cybersecurity, Fraud Prevention, General
At Iowa State Bank we take the responsibility of safe-guarding your money very seriously. That’s why we’re sharing information about how to prevent fraud and how to avoid common scams. We’re calling these Scam-O-Grams! Remember, if you have questions or concerns about fraud, call us first.
Every grandparent wants to hear from their grandchild, and scammers know this. If you get a call from someone pretending to be your grandchild, beware! Scammers trick... Read More
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Beware of COVID-19 Scams
March 15, 2021
Categories: Business Fraud, Business Tips, Consumer Tips, Cybersecurity, Fraud Prevention, General
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, people all over the world have been anxiously awaiting the development of a vaccine that could protect them from the coronavirus. While the announcement that the vaccine is being distributed throughout the U.S. gives cybercriminals the opportunity to create scams, we're providing the following tips to help consumers avoid becoming a victim.
COVID-19 vaccine scams could come through phishing emails that offer to sell a vaccine or other type of treatment.... Read More
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Watch Out for Cyber Monday Scams
November 30, 2020
Categories: Business Fraud, Community, Consumer Tips, Cybersecurity, Fraud Prevention, General
Online shopping has become even more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic as people try to protect themselves through social distancing. With Cyber Monday on the horizon, watch out for phishing and other identity theft scams this holiday shopping season.
Being alert to the social engineering tricks commonly used by cybercriminals is the most effective way to protect yourself from becoming a victim of cybercrime. Following is a list of do's and don'ts to help you spot email phishing... Read More
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NEW! Online Financial Safety Webinar
March 23, 2020
Categories: Business Fraud, Consumer Tips, Cybersecurity, General
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Kossuth County is partnering with Iowa State Bank to offer a webinar, “Online Financial Safety”, on Thursday, April 9, 2020. The webinar will be hosted via WebEx, and will begin at 12:00 noon.
The webinar will help participants to better protect their finances from fraud, by teaching how to instill good security practices for one’s home and financial life. “American’s have lost billions of dollars in recent... Read More
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Beware of Holiday Gift Card Scams
December 3, 2019
Categories: Business Fraud, Business Tips, Consumer Tips, Cybersecurity, Fraud Prevention, General
Gift cards can be a thoughtful and generous gift. Consumers spend more than $130 billion on gift cards per year, according to CEB TowerGroup. With that much money involved, these products make for a popular target for fraudsters -- especially during the holidays. Iowa State Bank wants to make sure consumers know how to spot such scams so they don't become a victim.
While community banks encourage consumers to shop their local businesses first, however sometimes a gift card is... Read More
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Tips for Choosing a Financial Caregiver
October 18, 2019
Categories: Consumer Tips, Fraud Prevention, General
According to the National Council on Aging, almost 90% of the financial abuse committed against older Americans is done by someone they know. More than ever, it is imperative for seniors to select a trustworthy person to properly manage their finances and personal affairs.
“Fraudsters often prey on seniors experiencing cognitive decline, limited mobility and other disabilities that require them to rely more heavily on others for help,” said Kristie Brown, Executive Vice President... Read More
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Positive Pay: Great Way for Businesses to Detect Potential Fraud
July 19, 2019
Categories: Business Fraud, Business Tips, Fraud Prevention, General
A message from Jason Wartick, Executive Vice President & Chief Credit Officer --
Criminals don’t just target consumers – they’re looking at businesses, large and small, for their fraudulent schemes. If you’re one of our commercial customers who uses our eCorp Business Banking solution at www.BankISB.com, we’re pleased to offer Positive Pay – a way for your business to reduce potential check fraud.
Our Positive Pay feature matches checks presented... Read More