BEWARE OF SCAMS AND CHECK FRAUD
The banking industry has seen a large increase in scams and fraudulent check cashing attempts. At Newfield National Bank we take the protection of our customers very seriously.
Below are some precautions you can take to protect your personal information:
Never give your personal or financial information to someone unless you have initiated the contact and have verified that you know who you’re communicating with.
Do NOT believe your Caller ID – Today’s technology allows scammers to create fake caller ID information.
Spot Imposters – Scammers often use high pressure tactics or pretend to be someone you trust. Common examples are charities, government officials (Social Security Administration), or well-known companies. Microsoft and Amazon will not send unsolicited e-mails to request personal or financial information to provide technical support.
Do NOT pay up front for promises – Someone may ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief or loan offers. They may even say you won a prize, but first you must pay the taxes or fees.
Do NOT deposit a check from an unknown source – If you receive a check from an unknown source, please consult with your local bank before depositing. IF THE CHECK IS DISCOVERED TO BE FRAUDULENT, YOU MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAYING THE LOSS OF FUNDS.
Online Sales – Potential buyers from out of state or other countries may send payments with a request to be paid back in cash or gift cards.
Consider how you pay – Credit Cards may have some fraud protection built in, but other payment methods may not. Money Orders have the greatest risk or loss, followed by reloadable visa/Mastercard’s and gift cards. Government agencies and honest companies will not require you to use these payment methods.
Talk to someone – Talk to someone you trust, family members , trusted friends or advisors, your local banker, or the police before you give out your personal information, send money, or allow access to your computer.
Protecting your BUSINESS account – We offer Positive Pay for all business accounts; this service is free, and it works through your online banking platform to help you mitigate fraud. Learn More
Fake shipping notification emails and text messages: What you need to know this holiday season.
When you order something online, you might get several emails or text messages about your order: Confirming your order. Telling you it shipped. Saying it's out for delivery. Notifying you about delivery. Did you know that scammers send fake package shipment and delivery notifications to try to steal people's personal information - not just at the holidays, but all year long? Here's what you need to know to protect yourself from these scams.
The bogus stories the scammers deliver
The scammers send bogus messages by email or text. The message might say that you missed a delivery attempt and ask you to click on a link to re-schedule the delivery. Or it could say that your item is ready to ship but you need to update your shipping preferences. Some create a sense of urgency by saying if you don't respond right away, they'll return your package to the sender.
They want you to click on the link without thinking about it and enter your personal or financial information. But the site is fake. A look-alike of a real website. And it'll capture all the information you enter. The link could also install harmful malware on your phone or computer that steals your information. Things like your usernames and passwords to your online banking, email, or social media accounts that scammers could use to steal your identity and open new accounts in your name.
What to do
- If you get a message about an unexpected package delivery that tells you to click on a link for some reason, don't click.
- If you think the message might be legitimate, contact the shipping company using a phone number or website you know is real. Don't use the information in the message.
- If you think it could be about something you recently ordered, go to the site where you bought the item and look up the shipping and delivery status there.
- No matter the time of year, it always pays to protect your personal information. Check out these resources to help you weed out spam text messages, phishing emails, and unwanted calls.