Top Internet Scams Targeting Seniors: How to Stay Safe
Posted On: August 5, 2025 by Prevail Bank in: Banking / Money Management, Fraud
At Prevail Bank, we care deeply about the well-being of our customers—financially, emotionally, and digitally. As technology becomes more central in our daily lives, it also opens the door to new opportunities and new threats. Sadly, seniors are often the target of sophisticated online scams designed to steal money, information, and trust.
Whether you’re reading this for yourself, a parent, a neighbor,...
Mobile Payments, Scams & Security: What You Need to Know Before You Tap "Send"
Posted On: August 5, 2025 by Prevail Bank in: Banking / Money Management, Digital Banking, Fraud
From splitting dinner with friends to sending thousands of dollars across the globe, online and mobile payment apps have made life easier. Services like PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle allow users to transfer money in seconds. But while the convenience is undeniable, so are the risks. As these apps grow in popularity, so do the scams targeting their users.
The Big Three: How They Work & How Safe They Are PayPalPayPal...
Protect Yourself from Fake Checks
Posted On: July 1, 2025 by Prevail Bank in: Banking / Money Management, Fraud
Fake check scams can lead to significant financial losses. Scammers use counterfeit checks to deceive individuals and businesses into sending money or goods. Unfortunately, spotting a fake or fraudulent check is difficult due to advancements in technology. But understanding how to identify these scams and learning how to spot a fake check will help protect you.
Keep in mind that even a fake check can initially clear and appear as available funds in your account. However,...
Do You Practice Safe Checks?
Posted On: May 29, 2025 by Prevail Bank in: Fraud
Despite the fact that check use has declined by 25%, reports of check fraud have soared. In fact, they’ve nearly doubled since 2021. If you’re using checks, please remember you’re exposing your personal information (name, contact information) and bank account info with each one you write. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated every day, finding new ways to steal your financial information and ultimately your money.
Criminals are known to...Know the charity you’re donating to. Scammers are taking advantage of your goodwill.
Posted On: April 29, 2025 by Prevail Bank in: Fraud
The FBI recently issued a warning to the public that scammers are taking advantage of the mass casualty events and disasters of the world by establishing fake charities. They are also posing as disaster relief agencies so they can collect your personal information and/or are pretending to be high-profile victims to tug at your heartstrings and acquire your donations. You’ll find these schemes online as well as in-person during collection drives.
In 2024, the FBI...
Protecting Your Finances: Staying Safe from Social Security Scams
Posted On: March 3, 2025 by Prevail Bank in: Banking / Money Management, Fraud
(2025) There is a serious issue out there that affects many people across the country: Social Security scams. At Prevail Bank, we're committed to safeguarding your financial well-being, and that includes helping you stay informed about these deceptive practices. Scammers are constantly changing-up their tactics. We must stay vigilant; we must continually learn and understand how to identify and avoid these schemes.
These scams often involve sophisticated methods...
SCAM ALERT: The IRS Would Never…
Posted On: January 31, 2025 by Prevail Bank in: Banking / Money Management, Fraud
With tax season upon us, the time for tax phishing and phone scams are too. Below are some tips taken directly from the IRS’ website, including associated links.
Remember, the IRS does not initially (key word is initially) reach out or contact taxpayers by email, text messages, or social media channels. This includes requests for personal identification information, PINS, passwords, or similar access information for credit cards, banks, or other financial accounts.
The...Stay Savvy: How to Avoid Holiday Online Shopping Scams
Posted On: October 30, 2024 by Prevail Bank in: Banking / Money Management, Fraud
The holiday season is a time for joy, festivities, and shopping! While online shopping offers convenience, it also comes with risks. Scammers use this busy season to trick people out of their hard-earned money. At Prevail Bank, we want you to shop safely. Here’s how to spot online shopping scams and protect yourself.
1. Red Flags for Online Shopping ScamsToo-Good-To-Be-True Deals: Extremely low prices on high-demand items are often scams. If the price seems...
Account takeovers are on the rise. What can you do about it?
Posted On: October 10, 2024 by Prevail Bank in: Banking / Money Management, Fraud
What is an Account Takeover?
An account takeover occurs when cyber criminals gain control of your online accounts using stolen credentials. They typically purchase consumer PII (Personally Identifiable Information) from the dark web, which is often sourced from data breaches, phishing scams, or malware. PII includes information like your name, address, email, phone number, date of birth, social media login details, and passwords.
Once a criminal has access to this...
Want a Job? Watch out for the You're Hired! Scams.
Posted On: June 26, 2024 by Prevail Bank in: Banking / Money Management, Fraud
It is so frustrating. You’re trying to contribute to society by finding gainful employment; you have hopes and dreams of a successful career. And just when you think you found an opportunity that is flexible and allows you to work from home… you’ve been scammed!
Scammers post fraudulent job postings to trick applicants into providing personal information or money. The FBI posted a public service...