How to Protect Yourself AgainsT
Fraud
WRITTEN BY NICK HASSETT, CONTENT MARKETING STRATEGIST; IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHRIS LEWIS, INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER; AND STEPHANIE THOMANN, TRANSACTION VERIFICATION OFFICER
As technology evolves to better serve bank customers like you, fraud is evolving too. In the past several years, the U.S. has seen a rise in sophisticated scams, phishing, and other fraudulent efforts designed to steal money and private information for nefarious purposes. By knowing what to look for and what to do if you see it, you can protect yourself and your loved ones against fraud and take action to safeguard your financial wellness.
Fraud in 2021 - What to Look For Fraud can usually be categorized in one of several ways, including:
Imposter Scams A scammer pretends to be someone you trust, such as a friend or family member, a bank employee, or a Social Security official. They may ask you to transfer money or provide personal information, such as your banking credentials, account or debit card number, PIN, or other sensitive data. You can protect yourself against these scams by: • Thinking twice about the caller or sender’s identity: Caller ID and email addresses can be faked. If you know how to get a hold of the sender via a different method, be sure to do so to verify their identity. • Avoiding suspect payment methods: Legitimate vendors, services, and government agencies rarely need you to pay via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If someone asks you for these kinds of payments, that should raise a red flag. • Being willing to say no: Scammers may try to give you a sense of urgency to their request – especially over the phone. If you’re feeling pressured, be willing to firmly say “no,” and hang up. If the request is legitimate, you can contact the relevant party in a different way.
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