Security Tips

Fake checks drive many types of scams- like those involving phony prize wins, fake jobs, mystery shoppers, online classified ad sales, and others. In a fake check scam, a person you don't know asks you to deposit a check-sometimes for several thousand dollars and usually for more than what you are owed- and wire some of the money back to that person. The scammers always have a good story to explain the overpayment- they're stuck out of the country, they need you to cover taxes or fees, you need to buy supplies, or something else. But by the time your bank discovers you've deposited a bad check, the scammer already has the money you sent, and you're stuck paying the rest of the check back to the bank.

The Federal Trade Commission receives tens of thousands of reports each year about fake checks. Over the last three years, the number of complaints has steadily increased, and so have the dollars lost.

The FTC's new info graphic developed with the American Bankers Association Foundation, offers some tip-offs to rip-offs and what to do if you get a check from someone you don't know.

Please share this information with others. Victims may be embarrassed to talk about their experiences, but you can help. A simple phone call, email or text, saying "Look what I just found" and sharing this information may make a difference in someone else's life.

Follow these tips to avoid a payment scam:

• When using Zelle or a wire transfer to pay someone, double check your payment details to make sure that you're sending money to the right person. If you send money as part of a scam, you may not be able to get it back.
• Don't send money or give account information to anyone you don't know or a company that you can't verify as legitimate.
• Don't send money back to someone who has provided a check or overpayment for goods or services. These are almost always scams.
• Don't cash checks for others or provide your account or sign-on information. If the check is bad, you are liable.
• Don't allow anyone else to use your desktop or mobile device and make sure you have extra layers of security added to your banking or payment apps.

• Store your Social Security card, passport, green card, financial documents, and unused credit, debit, or ATM cards in a secure location.
• Never provide your personal or financial information to anyone unless you initiate the call or other communication.
• Don't send personal or financial information through text or email, as this is typically not secure.
• Shred documents that contain sensitive information before discarding.
• Sign up for online billing and financial statements to help reduce the risk of identity theft from stolen paper documents.
• Review your credit report at least once a year to look for unauthorized accounts that are opened in your name.
• Monitor your credit and set up credit monitoring alerts.
• Help protect against child identity theft by limiting the type of information shared with schools and organizations.

 

Ways to Keep Your Information Safe

Monitor Your Accounts

• Carefully and regularly check your statements and reconcile your accounts daily for unexpected activity.
• Contact us immediately if you notice any unusual activity on your account. 
• Periodically check your credit report.
• Sign up for customizable Debit Card Alerts, so you can quickly detect and help stop fraudulent use of your debit card.
  • Grandview Bnak may occasionally send you a fraud text and/or email alert asking you to confirm whether you recognize a particular debit card transaction. It's important that you respond to those fraud alerts.
• Take advantage of tools that can help you stay safe
  • Sign up for Debit Card Alerts for protection against unauthorized transactions
  • Use Grandview Bank app to monitor the transactions on your accounts.
    
  • Sign up for E-Statement Delivery to stop receiving paper statement by mail to help limit potential for theft.
  • Sign up for account email alerts to monitor account activity
• Protect your Debit Card
  • Keep your PIN a secret. Do not write your PIN on your card, its carrier or other papers in your wallet
  • Grandview Bank will never call, text or email you to ask for your PIN. Do not share your PIN with anyone.
  • Place travel notices on your debit card when traveling out of the U.S.
  • Only shop online at trusted websites.
• Keep your devices secure
  • Keep your device's operating system, software and apps up to date.
  • Set up a password for your device and lock it when not in use.
  • Use strong passwords when accessing online accounts. Use Multi-factor authentication if possible.
  • Fully log out of online banking when you
  • Keep your software up to date. Software developers send out updates to enhance protection from cybercriminals.
  • Ensure that you are using the most recent version of antivirus software.
  • Do not log into online banking using Wi-Fi hotspots; these connections typically do not have adequate security to keep your information safe.
  • Secure your router by changing the name and password from the default setting.
  • Do not install or run any app or program on your device unless it's from a trusted source.
  • If you use the Frost App and lose your device, you can disable the app in Grandview Bank Online Banking.
• Protect Yourself From Common Scams
  • Never give your online banking credentials to a third party who wants to make a deposit into your account, for an online loan or for any other reason.
  • Be cautious of communications from unsolicited sources including by phone, text, email or through social media.
  • Stay alert of "spoofed phone calls", Fraudsters are "spoofing" or falsifying their phone number to display as a rep;utable company to consumers with the goal of getting them to give out account credentials, sending money to fake organizations or infecting their mobile or desktop devices with a virus.
  • Federal government agencies, including the IRS, will never text or call you to ask for money.

• Watch for suspicious or unknown email addresses: One of the first indicators of many spoofed emails is the use of a suspicious email address. In some cases, the email address could contain typos or replace letters with numbers.
• Avoid clicking links and attachments: Be sure to avoid clicking any links or attachments, as spoofed emails may contain links that can take you to malicious websites or expose you to malware.
• Run a search for related scams: If an email seems suspicious, copy and paste the contents of the email into a search engine. It's possible that the email has been sent to others before, and it may have been reported as a scam somewhere online.
• Check for grammar and spelling errors: In many cases, spoofed emails contain spelling and grammatical errors that a legitimate message would not.
• Safeguard your personal information: Always think twice before sharing any sort of personal information online. If you do, be sure to verify that you're sharing it with a reliable person or organization.
  
• Use antivirus software: Antivirus software an help protect your device from the dangers of email spoofing like phishing, malware, and identity theft.

1. Phone scams from phony IRS Agents

If the caller threatens you with police arrest, deportation or immediate criminal action- they're not from the IRS. Phone calls demanding immediate cash payments are made by criminals who impersonate tax agents. These calls are so common; it's likely you've been targeted at some point.

Don't give any information to these callers. Ask for a name, title and phone number, but don't call back.

2. Emails designed to steal personal information

Phishing is a serious scam; it refers to fake emails often claiming to be from the IRS that mention a bill or refund you didn't expect. Remember that tax authorities won't email you out of the blue, so don't open messages supposedly from the IRS. They are likely fraudulent attempts to steal your Social Security number or other personal information. Think twice or three times before giving out your credit card or other financial information online.

3. False tax returns to pocket your refund

Once a criminal gets access to your Social Security number, they have everything necessary to file a tax return in your name. The purpose of a fraudulent tax return is, obviously, not to pay your back taxes, but to pocket your refund. This scam occurs early in the tax season, well before most taxpayers file. Take every possible precaution to keep your SSN secret, and if possible, file your taxes early.

4. False charities that solicit donations

If you lost a family member from a disease or another tragedy, con artists can close in. These scammers target taxpayers who might want to make a tax-free donation to a particular charity. If you get a phone call or email soliciting money to fight disease or assist victims, don't give out cash or financial info. Instead, look up the charity on the Exempt Organizations Select Check tool to see if it's legitimate.

5. False tax preparers that pose as legitimate professionals

Think of these scammers as wolves in sheep's clothing who pose as legitimate tax preparers or professionals, but actually intend to steal your money. Taxpayers targeted in this case are often people who don't speak English well or don't fully understand the U.S. tax system, such as first- time tax filers. Not only do the scammers take a large fee for their "services", but they may also inflate deductions with phony benefits or tax credits, and then have the refund forwarded to their accounts.

• Your best bet for avoiding this kind of scam is to ask for references from tax preparers before you sign on the dotted line.
• You might also consider using a tax preparer recommended to you you by someone you trust.
• The IRS also has a Federal Tax Return Preparer directory you can use to search for a tax preparer near you.

Consumers should always exercise caution when it comes to your personal and financial information. The following tips may help prevent your from becoming a fraud victim.

• Be aware of incoming email or text messages that ask you to click on a link because the link may install malware that allows thieves to spy on your computer and gain access to your information.
• Be suspicious of incoming email or text messages that ask you to click on a link because the link may install malware that allows thieves to spy on your computer and gain access to your information.
• Be suspicious of any email or phone requests to update or verify your personal information because a legitimate organization would not solicit updates in an unsecured manner for information it already has.
• Confirm a message is legitimate by contacting the sender (it is best to look up the sender's contact information yourself instead of using contact information in the message).
• Assume any offer that seems too good to be true, is probably a fraud.
• Be on guard against fraudulent checks, cashier's checks, money orders, or electronic fund transfers sent to you with requests for you to wire back part of the money.
• Be wary of unsolicited offers that require you to act fast.
• Check your security settings on social media network sites. Make sure they block out people who you don't want seeing your page.
• Research any apps before downloading and don't assume an app is legitimate just because it resembles the name of your bank or other company you are familiar with.
• Be wary of offers that pressure you to send funds quickly by wire transfer or involve another party who insists on secrecy.