Prevention Tips & News
Know the signs! One in ten adults will fall victim to a scam or fraud every year. Roughly 19% fell victim more than once. We want to help you fight fraud! On this page you will find the latest scams and how to prevent them from happening to you!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Never give out your online credentials to a scammer. If you do, make sure you change your password immediately! Remember, if there's something strange, and you think you've been scammed, who you gonna call? Your Bank! We are here to help guide you and answer questions.
Popular Scams
Spoofed Phone Number Scams- there has been an uptick in fraud due to this popular scam. Whether it appears to be your bank, utility company, or your credit card company, never hit redial. Always call the number back directly. When a scammer uses a spoofed number, they manipulate your caller ID to make it appear to be coming from a local or known number. This makes it much more likely to be trusted so you either answer the call or redial the number after they leave you a message.
Romance Scams - this has become a very popular scam as millions of people are using online dating apps or social media to meet people. These romance scammers earn your trust and tug at your heart strings to get you to send them money. The Federal Trade Commission has excellent Consumer Information about Romance Scams. Learn how to avoid this type of scam and how to report it.
Amazon Scams - Amazon will not ask to have remote access to your computer. They will not call to let you know your account has been hacked or to confirm a purchase. A new scam we are seeing is people calling claiming they are from Amazon and that they "accidently" refunded you too much money on an unauthorized purchase and that they need you to send back a portion of it. Learn more about the different types of "Amazon" scams from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Streaming Service Scams - Scammers are setting up fake sites that look like real website for your activation codes. These sites will trick you into clicking on links that download malware. Watch the spelling in the URL, this is a good indicator if it is a real site or not. The Better Business Bureau has more details about this scam.
Coronavirus Scams - There has been an increasing number of scams that offer cures for COVID-19, treatments, test kits or even air purifiers. If you receive a phone call, email or text message, it is most likely a scam. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has resources to help you avoid this type of scam. They will also explain how to avoid other coronavirus scams that are happening.
Resources
The following resources offer great information about scams and safety.