Fraud & Scam Awareness
Protect your information
Being smart with your financial information can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of fraud and identity theft. Learn how to protect your information and improve your financial future with the information below.
Tips to Avoid Scams
- Never give personal info to unsolicited callers – Legitimate organizations will not ask for sensitive data out of the blue.
- Don’t always trust caller ID – Scammers can, and often do, spoof phone numbers.
- Hang up! Call the bank or company back using the official number from their website or other known source.
- Use multi-factor authentication and don't share verification codes.
- Reset and use strong passwords.
- Monitor your transactions regularly with online/mobile banking.
- Report phishing and vishing attempts to the bank and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If something seems unusual, suspicious, or you have the slightest concern about a communication or inquiry that appears to be from the bank – please call your branch or our Customer Service team at 866.844.7500.
Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts, and calls. And the problem is only growing worse. The Federal Trade Commission’s fraud report estimates that American consumers lost a staggering $12.5 billion to phishing scams and related fraud in 2024 – a 25% increase over the $10 billion reported in 2023.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are fraudulent attempts to deceive people into revealing sensitive information. Phishing uses fake emails, messages, or websites that appear to be from trustworthy sources. Phishing scams use sophisticated tactics like creating convincing replicas of legitimate websites, exploiting fear or curiosity, and using deceptive urgency. These tactics can lead individuals to disclose sensitive information or click on malicious links without thinking it through.
Smishing is phishing that specifically uses deceptive text messages. The term is derived from "SMS" and "phishing." Smishing involves sending fraudulent text messages that appear to be from reputable companies, aiming to induce individuals to disclose personal information such as passwords, card numbers, or bank account details.
You can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing scams by:
- Being skeptical of unexpected emails, texts, and other messages
- Verifying the sender's authenticity
- Using multi-factor authentication
- Staying informed about common phishing tactics
Real-world Example
Scammer sends you a fake text message appearing to come from the bank’s fraud monitoring system in an attempt to trick you into clicking on malicious links. Remember, our fraud monitoring service’s messages simply ask you to reply with a Yes or No. Never trust links in text messages from unknown senders.
Vishing is a type of cyberattack where scammers use voice communication, typically phone calls, to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information such as:
- Social Security numbers
- Bank account details
- Card numbers
- Login credentials
Scammers often try to create urgency or fear by saying things like, "your account is compromised” or “we will need to freeze your account if you don’t provide info.” In some cases, fraudsters can mimic or “spoof” the phone number of a company you know and trust – even your bank.
Sophisticated fraudsters have also been known to try to impersonate employees of bank branches, their online banking support team, or sadly, the fraud monitoring department. Beware of callers claiming to be from any bank, because scammers are out there trying to impersonate every bank.
Real-world Example
Fraudster calls you claiming to be from a branch or the fraud department and attempts to get your online banking credentials or account information by telling you that your account will be frozen if you don’t provide the info. Some imposters can even spoof a bank phone number or will try to impersonate a bank employee by name to gain their trust.
Consumer Tips
As banking services continue to evolve in the digital age, it is imperative for customers to remain vigilant and well-informed about the growing threat of fraud and scams. In an era where financial transactions are conducted at the click of a button, cybercriminals employ sophisticated tactics to exploit unsuspecting individuals. Understanding the various types of fraud and scams, recognizing their warning signs, and adopting proactive measures are crucial in safeguarding your hard-earned money and personal information.
- Never agree to pay to claim a prize.
- No legitimate sweepstakes or lottery would ever send you a check or money order and ask you to send payment in return. If you really won, you would pay taxes directly to the government.
- Never agree to pay for grants from the government or foundations.
- They don’t offer money to people unexpectedly or charge to get it. Most grants go to organizations, not individuals, and require a lengthy and extensive application process.
- Never agree to cash checks and send the money somewhere as part of a job working from home.
- That is not how legitimate employers operate.
- Never agree to wire money to anyone you have not met in person and have not known for a long time.
- If it seems suspicious, get advice.
- Consult your state or local consumer protection agency, the Federal Trade Commission, the Postal Inspection Service, or another trusted source.
- Remember that there is no legitimate reason why anyone who wants to give you a check or money order for something would ever ask you to send money anywhere in return.
Delivering Trust
Fraud schemes victimize millions of Americans each year, leaving many financially devastated. The United States Postal Inspection Service provides a fraud education and prevention Web site called Delivering Trust. The site is filled with a variety of fraud prevention tips to help consumers recognize potential fraud.
Combat Scams and Fraud
The Federal Trade Commission provides a website called Money Matters that they hope will help the public avoid scams and prevent a potential loss. The site is filled with tips and warning signs to help educate consumers about various scams that are being used.
Combat Check Scams
If someone you don’t know sends you a check and asks for money back, that’s a scam. Fake checks come in many forms. They might look like business or personal checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, or electronic checks. Here’s what you need to know about fake check scams. In a fake check scam, a person you don’t know asks you to deposit a check — sometimes for several thousand dollars, and usually for more than you are owed — and send some of the money back, to them or another person. The scammers always have a good story to explain the overpayment. They might say they’re stuck out of the country, they need you to cover taxes or fees, you’ll need to buy supplies, or something else.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
The IC3 participates in multiple initiatives targeting an array of cyber crime schemes that victimize individuals and businesses domestically and abroad. These initiatives are a coordination of industry resources along with the investigative resources provided by cyber crime task forces comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The success of these initiatives is directly attributable to the inclusion of the industry resources. Initiatives focus on the following: Charitable Contributions Fraud, Counterfeit Check Fraud, Identity Theft Task Force, International Fraud, Investment Fraud, Online Pharmaceutical Fraud, Phishing, Work-at-home Scams.