Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit are excellent financial tools that allow homeowners to leverage their home’s value for renovations, debt consolidation, or major purchases. These loans often come with lower interest rates than other financing options, making them...
Kim Smith
Kim Smith is a BSA fraud analyst at Centris Federal Credit Union in Omaha, Neb. In her role, Kim helps educate Centris members about fraud and works to protect them from fraudulent activity. In her 17 years of experience, she has gained an expansive knowledge of the banking ecosystem, specifically focusing on money movement and fraud trends. Kim received her bachelor’s degree in general studies from the University of Nebraska Omaha. In her free time, Kim enjoys spending time with her family, going to musicals and symphonies, and reading.
The Latest From Kim
How to Recognize and Avoid Online Loan Fraud
In light of current economic challenges and the diminishing influence of COVID-era stimulus payments, consumers are increasingly turning to loans for financial relief. However, many online loan companies are not as legitimate as they seem. Predatory lenders target...
How to Protect Yourself from Internet Shopping Scams
In 2023, consumers reported $752 million dollars lost because of online retail scams. With the rise in internet shopping fraud, we’ve put together a list of what to look for before buying something from an online store, how to protect yourself when purchasing online...
Protect Yourself from Fake QR Code Scams
Quick response codes also known as QR codes, are everywhere these days. Many restaurants use them for their menus, airlines use them for checking into your flight, and concerts or sporting events for admission tickets. While these codes are more prevalent...
How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Identity theft can happen to anyone and occurs when someone uses another person’s identifying information, typically for a financial gain. There are several ways identity theft can happen: Mail Fraud Data Breaches Digital Service (Apps) Compromise Phishing Emails...
How to Protect Minors from Being Scammed Online
Today’s youth have grown up surrounded by computers, smartphones, the internet and social media. It’s no surprise they are internet and tech savvy and have a lot of confidence navigating online. Along with their tech knowledge, young kids and teens may also be more...
What Are Tax Scams & How to Identify Them
Tax season is a prime time for fraudsters. Taxes are often mystifying, leaving people with questions about their tax returns. And because the IRS does not carry a perfect reputation with Americans, many are left on edge about receiving IRS communications. These...
Cybersecurity Tips: Protect Yourself Against Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
Some people seeking student debt forgiveness may not understand the process or know which sources to trust to see if they qualify. Unfortunately, loan scammers take advantage of those individuals. In doing so, they create fake student loan forgiveness applications to...
Fraud Prevention: Tips & Red Flags You Should Know
Fraud has become increasingly more common in today’s digital age. Fraudsters have more ways to target individuals than ever before, such as email, text and social media. As a financial institution, our responsibility is to educate our members about fraud and how to...