|
Fraud Prevention: What Can You Do?Scammers are always looking for new victims, and seniors are on their list. These crooks use many ways to target your money or personal information. Here are some things to look for and some suggestions about what to do if you think you might be a victim. Don’t rush into financial decisions. If you’re unsure about anything, ask for an explanation or say you need more time to think about it. Don’t feel pressured to make snap decisions. Don’t give out personal information such as account numbers, your Social Security number, or your debit or credit card numbers unless you’re sure it’s necessary.
|
Beware of Fictitious Wire InstructionsBeware of Sneaky Wire Transfer Email Fraud Ever sent a wire transfer for a business deal, only to realize later it was a hoax? Scammers are always looking for new methods, and wire transfer fraud, a specific type of Business Email Compromise (BEC), is a growing threat for both businesses and individuals. Let’s look at what wire transfer email fraud is, how it works, its impact on small businesses, and how to protect yourself from falling victim to such scams. This guide is especially relevant for small business owners, IT professionals, finance managers, and freelancers who are looking to safeguard their operations. Understanding Wire Transfer Email Fraud Wire transfer email fraud is a sophisticated scam that targets businesses and individuals by tricking them into wiring money to fraudulent accounts. Fraudsters typically gain access to email systems through phishing or malware and then use compromised accounts to send fake wire transfer instructions. One common tactic is the "updated instructions" scam, where scammers send revised wire transfer details to redirect funds to their accounts. How the Scam Works Imagine you're finalizing a legitimate transaction via email and receive wire transfer instructions. Later, you get another email, seemingly from the same person, with "updated" or "corrected" instructions. This new email might have a slightly different sender address or contain a sense of urgency, but it contains a different receiving account for the wire and sometimes new contact information for the sender. Here's the catch: it's a fake email! Scammers often compromise legitimate email accounts or create look-alike addresses to trick you into sending money to their accounts. Wire transfer email fraud usually begins with a phishing attack or malware infection that grants scammers access to an email account. Once inside, they monitor communications to identify ongoing transactions and then send fake wire transfer instructions. They often impersonate a trusted vendor or colleague to make the request appear legitimate.
|
Potential AT&T Data Leak from 2021 affecting 71 million peopleAT&T says a massive trove of data impacting 71 million people did not originate from its systems after a hacker leaked it on a cybercrime forum and claimed it was stolen in a 2021 breach of the company. Click here to read more Click here to read more on SIM Swapping |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Account AlertsThe best defense against account fraud is knowing when fraudulent activity takes place. Our Account Alerts system provides stronger security by delivering real-time account alerts. Receive alerts via online banking, text, email and push notifications. Alerts help you manage your account by monitoring your account balances and activity, getting deposit and withdraw notifications, controlling security alerts and more. For detailed instructions on how to set-up Account Alerts for your accounts, please view the video below. If you have any questions, please contact one of our experienced Bankers at (847) 432-7800. |
Identity Theft Protection | Personal & Business |
|
If you are a victim of identity theft, please use the following resources:Credit Reporting Companies
Federal Trade Commission
Social Security Administration SOCIALSECURITY.GOV type “Fraud” in the search box 1(800) 269-0271 Opt Out Opt out of pre-screened offers of credit or insurance: OPTOUTPRESCREEN.COM or 1(888) 567-8688 US Postal Service Mail theft or identity theft issues – 1(800) 275-8777 or 1(877) 876-2455 |