Fraud Tips & Resources

Protect Your Generosity: How to Spot and Avoid Charity Scams ‘Tis the season of giving, but unfortunately, it’s also prime time for charity scams. While most charitable organizations are legitimate and do wonderful work in our community, fraudsters often exploit people’s generosity during the holidays. We want to help you ensure your donations reach thoseRead More »Protect Your Generosity: How to Spot and Avoid Charity Scams

In recent months, we have seen a rise in a specific type of scam. We here at Kelly Community hope to give you the tools to protect your money from would-be thieves! Scenario: You are scrolling Facebook marketplace and see that a friend is selling something you want for a very low price. You inquireRead More »Beware of Social Media Money Scams

There’s a growing trend of scammers taking advantage of elderly people and their finances. People in here in Smith County have lost their entire life savings to these crimes. Scenario: A scammer establishes a friendly relationship with an elderly person, perhaps posing as a new friend interested in taking care of them and keeping themRead More »Scam: Elder Financial Abuse

In recent months, we have seen a rise in a specific type of scam. We here at Kelly Community hope to give you the tools to protect your money from would-be thieves! Scenario: You receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be with the Treasury department. They tell you that a distant relative ofRead More »Scam: Fooled – Not Me!

In recent months, we have seen a rise in a specific type of scam. We here at Kelly Community hope to give you the tools to protect your money from would-be thieves! Scenario: You are browsing the web or reviewing e-mails on your home PC and suddenly, a warning pops up. (Our members tell usRead More »Scammed – How did they do that?

Identity theft has become a mainstream crime. It happens thousands of times of day and is the primary reasons Kelly Community and so many other financial institutions are so iron-clad about fraud detection on debit and credit cards. As members ourselves, we understand the frustrations of having purchases declined because of suspected fraud, but thereRead More »Keeping Your Cards Safe While You Travel

In today’s digital age, where convenience often trumps caution, it’s crucial to remain vigilant about safeguarding your personal information. With the rise of identity theft and fraudulent activities, one of the most critical precautions you can take is to refrain from sharing sensitive details like your account or Social Security number over the phone orRead More »Protecting Your Identity!

Summer…the most wonderful time of year for a lot of us here in Texas. Unfortunately, it’s also the most wonderful time of year for scammers. With so many people traveling, these criminals are out in full force, waiting for you to slip up so they can still your money and/or identity. Here are some tipsRead More »Avoid Travel Scams This Summer

Scareware fraud operates by presenting victims with alarming pop-up messages or fake security alerts that claim their device is infected with a virus, malware or other threat. These messages often mimic legitimate antivirus software, tricking users into believing they urgently need to take action to protect their devices. In a panic, users may follow promptsRead More »Beware of Scareware Fraud Scams

Payment App Scams on the Rise Payment apps like Venmo and Cash App are more popular than ever before…both among law-abiding citizens and criminals. These apps make it easy to send money, and scammers take advantage of their convenience to trick you. It’s time to educate yourself on the risks so you can be safeRead More »Payment Apps Scams

QR codes have become an integral part of our daily lives, connecting the physical and digital worlds. From contactless payments to accessing website links, these unique barcodes offer convenience at our fingertips. But be careful and mindful when scanning these codes. There are scammers out there trying to steal your personal information. QR code fraudRead More »The Hidden Dangers of QR Code Fraud

December is National Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month, and there’s a reason it’s in December. This is the busiest shopping month of the year, and scammers are just waiting for us to slip up both online and in person so they can steal our personal information. Identity theft is a crime that happens whenRead More »Preventing Holiday Shopping Scams