|
|
|
Consumer Alerts |
| |
|
The Stephenson National Bank & Trust feels that it is
important to alert the community to scams and fraudulent
activity. Awareness is the key to avoiding being victimized by
these types of crimes. |
| |
|
Any legitimate financial institution will NEVER ask you to
verify your account information. Remember, keep any your
personal information such as Social Security number and credit
card number in a safe location. |
| |
|
Recent Fraudulent Activity in our
Community: |
|
|
|
July 2010:
Individuals and companies have reported receiving an e-mail that
appears to be from the National Automated Clearing House
Association (NACHA). The subject line of the e-mail states
"Unauthorized ACH Transaction". The e-mail includes a link that
redirects the individual to a fake webpage and contains a line
that is very likely an executable virus with malware. DO NOT
CLICK ON THE LINK . Both the e-mail and the related website are
fraudulent.
A customer came to
us recently with two letters from Mystery Shopping companies.
Enclosed with each letter was a check made out to the customer
for $3000 - $4000. The letter directs the customer to deposit
the check into their account, purchase some items, then send
money back to the company via Western Union or other money
service. These are scams. Do Not Cash or Deposit the Checks. |
|
|
|
June 2010:
We have been notified of an e-mail scam resurfacing. The subject
of the e-mail is “Notice of Underreported Income” and should not
be opened, nor should any links provided in the e-mail be
followed. Doing so would launch a malicious virus which is
capable of stealing passwords to private information.
Click here to read a Security Blog on the subject. |
|
|
|
April 2010:
It has come to our attention that there is a fake e-mail that
claims to be from snbt.com telling the recipients to run a file
and follow instructions. We did not send the e-mail, it is
fake. Please Note: We will never send an e-mail asking our
customers to verify their account or that their account has been
accessed by someone else. Please use caution when clicking on
e-mailed links.
= = = = = Sample
fake e-mail = = = = = =
From: snbt.com support [mailto:noahrg1535@ralpert.com]
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 12:14 AM
To: sample
Subject: snbt.com account notification
Dear Customer,
This e-mail was send by snbt.com to notify you that we have
temporanly prevented access to your account.
We have reasons to beleive that your account may have been
accessed by someone else. Please run this file and Follow
instructions:
http://linkremoved.
(C) snbt.com |
|
|
|
March
2010: Automated calls were received stating that a
person's Debit Card has been deactivated due to a breach of
security. If you receive a call, Do Not press 1 and Do Not enter
your Debit Card number, hang up immediately. |
|
|
|
November 2009: A Phishing Alert originated from WACHA
and NACHA, The Electronic Payments Associations. It appears that
individuals and/or companies may have received a falsified
e-mail with the subject title "Rejected ACH Transaction". The
e-mails appear to be from WACHA or NACHA and indicate that there
is a problem with an ACH transaction they have originated. The
e-mail includes a link that redirects the individual to a fake
web page which appears to be either the WACHA or NACHA website.
The link is very likely an executable virus with malware. These
emails did not originate from either agency and the website is
not valid. Do not click on the link.
Below is a sample of the falsified e-mail that was sent.
= = = = = Sample
NACHA e-mail = = = = = =
From: nacha.org [mailto:report@nacha.org]
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:25 AM
To: Doe, John
Subject: Rejected ACH transaction, please review
the transaction report
Dear bank account holder,
The ACH transaction, recently initiated from your bank account,
was rejected
by the Electronic Payments Association. Please
review the transaction report
by clicking the link below:
Unauthorized ACH Transaction Report [This is
the how the link displays.]
------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright ©2009 by NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association
= = = = = = = = = =
= = = = = |
|
|
|
September 2009:
Cell phone texting scams, called SMiShing, happen when a scammer
tries to obtain a person's Credit or Debit card PIN by texting a
message appearing to be from a bank, credit union, or credit
card company. The text reads that a card has been deactivated or
blocked, then a phony phone number is given. Fraud occurs when
the cardholder contacts the telephone number referenced in the
message and provides their PIN. Example:
sms.alert@visa.com/VISA. (Card Blocked) Alert.
For more information please call 1-877-269-XXXX. |
|
|
|
April 2009: An e-mail scam has been
circulating in which recipients are asked to provide their
Century Tel e-mail address, password, age, country and date of
birth. This e-mail was not sent by Century Tel and it bears all
the earmarks of a scam. |
|
|
|
April 2009: Letters are e-mailed
notifying the recipient that they have a large inheritance
waiting for them in a foreign country.
Example
of Fraudulent Letter |
|
|
| |
Personal information that you should
never
release in a conversation that you did not initiate
includes… |
|
| |
1. Bank Account Numbers |
|
| |
2. Credit or Debit Card Numbers |
|
| |
3. Personal Identification Number (PIN) |
|
| |
4. Social Security Number |
|
| |
5. Bank Online Access ID or Password |
|
|
| |
|
Consumer Fraud
Information |
|
|
|
Identity
Theft
is a generic term that covers a number of possible loss
situations including purse/wallet snatch, mail theft,
insider sources, imposters, spy ware, phishing scams,
account takeover (using account information to commit a
fraud), full-blown identity theft (an imposter obtains
personal information about the victim and “takes over”
their identity in another location, normally another
state), and data compromise. |
|
|
|
Check fraud
is another problem which utilizes internet auctions,
sweepstakes or lottery scams, false charities or chat
rooms to trick consumers into depositing counterfeit
cashier’s checks and money orders with instructions to
send funds back to someone, either the remitter or
another person involved with the scam. When the check
is returned to the bank as counterfeit, the consumer is
legally responsible for restitution. |
|
|
|
Education
is
the best way to protect you from these types of thefts.
Arm yourself with as much information and knowledge
about what avenues these thieves are taking to get your
money or your identity. Many government agencies
websites provide information on various frauds and
identity theft to educate consumers on how to protect
themselves. They also provide information and
instructions on what to do if you’ve been victimized
including reporting the incident to them. This is
helpful in compiling statistics and the sharing of
information may lead to identifying the perpetrators of
these crimes. |
|
| |
| |
|
DebitFacts.org |
| |
|
You Have the Power to Stop Identity Theft |
| |
|
Tips
to Protect Your Identity |
| |
|
Fraudulent
Telephone Schemes |
| |
|
Identity Theft & Fraud |
| |
|
Phishing
Vishing |
|
|
| |
|
 |
| |
