Scammers thrive on misinformation and deception. They prey upon fears and use positive emotions, like trust, to their benefit. All of the information swirling around the internet regarding COVID-19 has created an opportunity for scammers to take advantage.

Many of us have developed a sixth sense in detecting a possible scam. The red flags are easy to spot. So easy, we think, that it’s silly that anyone could fall for the scam. However, sometimes our idea of a scam is skewed by extreme stories of people getting conned out of thousands of dollars from an unsolicited email from a foreign prince.

Astra Bank is excited to announce an added layer of convenience and protection against fraudulent or suspicious activity on your debit card, beginning May 20th. With text alerts you can be notified anytime and anywhere about possible fraudulent activity.

A stolen identity harms your finances and credit, sometimes temporarily and sometimes permanently. The same technology that makes your life easier and more convenient can be used against you by nefarious individuals.

It’s extremely important to keep up to date on the ways wrongdoers attempt to steal your information and the ways to combat it.

Scammers follow the news – and the money. A few months ago, we shared the news that Medicare is sending new cards to everyone who gets Medicare benefits, replacing your Social Security number with another number. As expected, scammers have been trying to cash in on this change.