NLB Blog

The holiday season is a time for shopping, gifting, and giving—but unfortunately, it’s also a time when scammers are more active than ever. From fake websites to phishing emails, holiday shopping scams can quickly ruin the festive spirit. Whether you’re buying gifts for loved ones, donating to a favorite charity, or snagging the best holiday deals, staying vigilant is critical.

We wanted to share tips for avoiding fraud during the 2024 holiday season, as provided by the United States Secret Service.

Your data security is in your hands, but you don't have to handle it alone. NebraskaLand Bank can help protect you and ensure your peace of mind.Your data security is in your hands, but you don't have to handle it alone. NebraskaLand Bank can help protect you and ensure your peace of mind.

In today's digital age, businesses are constantly at risk of falling victim to cyberattacks. One particularly dangerous threat is known as business email compromise (BEC).

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the country, and everyday activities like disposing of documents present opportunities for sensitive information to be stolen. In recognition of this risk, NebraskaLand Bank takes proactive measures to protect our customers through initiatives like Comm(unity) Shred Day. This free event, taking place in both North Platte and Kearney, provides a safe and environmentally friendly way for community residents and local businesses to dispose of important documents.

Avoid falling victim to fraud. With our world’s reliance on technology, it’s important to keep yourself informed of the latest cyber scams. Chances are, you’ve already been a target of a cybercriminal or fraudster. One common type of fraud is referred to as Social Engineering.  Social engineering is a technique used to manipulate a victim into disclosing information or taking a specific action. Fraudsters will communicate with an intended target by saying they are from a trusted organization or financial institution.  They may even impersonate someone the target knows.

Here are some tips to help you stay safe while using mobile banking.

• Download official banking apps only
• Use strong passwords and biometrics
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Keep your device updated
• Avoid public Wi-Fi networks
• Monitor your accounts regularly
• Only pay people you know

Cybersecurity attacks on owners and employees at small and medium sized businesses are increasing at an alarming rate. These attacks can result in significant business disruption and substantial monetary losses. A staggering 95% of cybersecurity breaches are due to human error. The good news is fraud can be prevented with proper training. That’s why NebraskaLand Bank is providing this free virtual training for you and your employees. A well-trained workforce may be your best defense against fraud and data breaches.

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 and mobile banking, the problem is only growing worse. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission’s report on fraud estimates that American consumers lost a staggering $5.8 billion to phishing scams and other fraud in 2021—an increase of more than 70 percent over 2020.

Spell check is a feature used by countless people in their everyday typed communication.  It’s accuracy ensures the number of typos in your documents decrease; this allows people to type with ease.  Most people install spell check extensions to make sending emails and writing papers faster.  However a new study shows that spell check extensions on your browsers are collecting your personal information, such as username, email, date of birth, Social Security number, and passwords essentially Spell-Jacking your information.

The FBI warned that companies and organizations are increasingly being targeted voice phishing, or “vishing,” attacks. In the January 14 Private Industry Notification (PIN), the FBI warned of an increase in the use of social engineering to target remote workers for access to company networks and data