Financial Tips to Do Better

We live in the internet age, where technology is almost always within reach, but as we increasingly digitize our lives, the risk of falling victim to fraud rises. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and with the holidays right around the corner, now's the best time to prepare yourself for potential attacks.

US Consumers lost 5.7 BILLION dollars to fraud in 2024 (McAlpin). As we near the end of 2025, I can’t help but wonder how much that number will rise. Let’s do our best to get you through the holiday season without adding to the tally.

Not sure what you should look out for? Don't worry, we asked our fraud experts, Atlantic’s Cybersecurity Analyst, and Payments & Fraud Manager, to share valuable tips and pain points to help keep you and your information safe.

Would they really target me?!

It's easy to grow complacent, to think that a criminal wouldn't target you. What would they gain from targeting you?

The answer is quite simple: they can steal your money, your information, or even your identity. On top of that, a potential scammer can utilize you to infiltrate the place you work.

Nintendo, which people associate with Mario, Pokémon, and gaming, suffered a major cybersecurity attack in October that saw 570GB of data leak, including secret internal documents outlining data and plans for the next decade for some of their developers (Sharma). How did people access this information? ONE employee clicked on a phishing link, and it was all over. 

You don't want to put your finances or your employer at risk, so it's important to keep track of trending fraud topics.

Here Phishy, Phishy

Store these tips in your memory, tape them to the wall, treat them like a digital lockbox to help keep you safe.

• Watch for Phishing Scams: Be cautious of emails or texts that appear to be from retailers or delivery services asking for personal information or payment details. Always double-check messages out of the blue, or if you think they might be real, reach out to the company directly.
• Refrain From Clicking on Links in Emails and Text Messages: It's easier for scammers to hide dangerous links in emails or texts. Always navigate to the official website yourself to be safe.
• Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA): In this modern age, enabling MFA is a must. ESPECIALLY on banking and shopping platforms. Want to learn more about MFA? Check out our Financial Tips to Do Better: Protect What Matters Most: Embrace Multifactor Authentication Now.
• Monitor Your Account Activity: You should regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any potential unauthorized transactions that point to a security breach. You can also enroll in credit score alerts with SavvyMoney in Atlantic's Digital Banking.
• Shop on Trusted Websites: Please, please, please, don't shop on Instagram or Facebook, especially during the holidays. Stick to official websites and well-known retailers. Always look for HTTPS in the URL before entering payment information.
• Beware of Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals: You know when a deal is too good. Avoid clicking on ads or links promoting extreme discounts, especially on social media or unfamiliar websites.

Let's Take it Offline.

Scams don't only come from the internet, though it is a common avenue scammers use for attacks.

Scam Calls are on the rise again, and now more than ever, it's important to know who you are talking to! If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from Atlantic, end the call immediately and call us at 800-834-0432 and we’ll help you!

We will never call or text you and ask you for your SSN, card numbers, or digital banking login information!

Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it likely is! You get a call from someone you don't know, and they're going on and on, selling you an absolute dream, and all you have to do is send them a little money to make it come true. Don’t do it. There's a high chance it's a scam trying to lull you into a false sense of security.

If someone asks you to send them money back via a bank check, gift cards, or wires, they're attempting to scam you - contact Atlantic immediately for help.

TLDR: 

In our increasingly digital world, fraud risks rise with greater online activity. October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a reminder to safeguard yourself. Protect against threats by watching for phishing scams, avoiding unknown links, enabling multifactor authentication, monitoring account activity, shopping on trusted sites, and being wary of too-good-to-be-true deals. Stay vigilant, and ensure your information remains secure.

We’re Here to Help!

We don’t want you to fall victim to fraud, so we share the knowledge we have, but if you do find yourself a victim, it’s important that you don’t let shame stop you from taking charge of your financial safety.

If you suspect you were targeted by a scam or have been a victim of fraud, please contact us immediately. Financial security is our top priority, and we are here to assist you through any concerns or issues you may encounter. Please stop by any of our convenient branch locations or call 800-834-0432 to schedule an appointment today.

Stay up to date and join our email list.

The Atlantic Financial Tips to Do Better strives to deliver informative, relevant, and sometimes fun financial information. If you enjoyed this article, please forward it to a friend.

Each individual's financial situation is unique, and readers are encouraged to contact the Credit Union when seeking financial advice on the products and services discussed. This article is for educational purposes only; the authors assume no legal responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the contents.

Sources:

McAlpin, K. (2025, September 16). 10 statistics for Better Fraud Prevention in 2025. Alloy. https://www.alloy.com/blog/2025-financial-fraud-statistics

Sharma, A. (2025, October 11). Nintendo’s internal files allegedly compromised in new crimson collective breach. Notebookcheck. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Nintendo-s-internal-files-allegedly-compromised-in-new-Crimson-Collective-breach.1136151.0.html