Fraud Awareness Resources

We want to make our community aware of a recent phone scam that has been targeting bank customers in our area. The scam involves individuals posing as representatives from the bank's fraud department, and they are using sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate. In some cases, the bank's name may even appear on the customer’s phone or caller ID, adding an extra layer of deceit.

How the Scam Works

1. Caller Pretends to Be from the Fraud Department: The scammer calls the customer, claiming to be from the bank's fraud department. They may provide a fake case number or reference a recent transaction to gain trust.

2. Convincing Customers to Validate Fraudulent Charges: The caller instructs the customer to confirm fraudulent alerts as valid charges, pretending this is part of the verification process.

3. Requesting Confidential Information: Some customers, convinced by the authenticity of the call, have been tricked into providing sensitive information such as their card details or online banking credentials.

4. Card Pickup Scam: In some instances, the scammer offers to send someone to the customer’s home to collect the blocked card, even asking them to leave it in their mailbox. This tactic has led to unauthorized transactions at ATMs and merchants.

Protect Yourself from This Scam

• Be Skeptical of Unexpected Calls: Even if the caller ID shows your bank’s name, remember that scammers can spoof phone numbers.

• Never Share Confidential Information: Your bank will never ask for sensitive information such as your PIN, password, or complete card number over the phone.

• Verify Suspicious Calls: If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call your bank directly using the number on the back of your card or your bank’s official website.

• Don't Hand Over Your Card: Your bank will never ask you to hand over your card, either in person or by mail.

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Call

• Hang up immediately if anything seems off.
• Contact your bank directly to report the incident.
• Monitor your accounts for any unusual activity and report unauthorized transactions right away.

Your security is our top priority. By staying informed and cautious, you can help protect yourself from fraud. For more tips on staying safe, visit our Fraud Awareness Resources page.