‘Tis the Season for Giving… and Grifting. Don’t fall for imposter scams!

In 2024, consumers lost nearly $3 billion to imposter scams. An imposter scam occurs when a fraudster pretends to be a representative of an organization you trust and tricks you into sending money, providing sensitive personal information, or allowing remote access to your computer. Scammers can be convincing and may even have some of your personal information, such as your address or the names of your family members, to help them appear legitimate. Look out for these signs that point to an imposter scam.  Recent examples include fraudsters attempting to impersonate government officials, computer or phone providers, and bank security personnel.

Know the warning signs

• Pressure to “act now.”  Fraudsters may urgently suggest that you are about to lose out on a deal that seems too good to be true, or they might warn that they need to access your accounts to protect you from fraud. No legitimate organization will ever force you to act or send money immediately, or pressure you to provide sensitive information or account access.
• Requests for personal or financial information, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, ATM PINs, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, cryptocurrency wallet keys or access codes, or access to investment accounts.
• Instructions to send cash, cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wires, or other unusual forms of payment.
• Typos or poor grammar in communications.  That said, AI tools can help make fraudster communications look legitimate. Be alert even when the communication looks professional and official.

How to protect yourself

• Confirm the legitimacy of the organization the scammer is claiming to represent by visiting the organization’s verified website or calling their official published phone number.
• Do not provide personal data or financial information via email, phone, text, or social media.
• Do not click on links, scan QR codes, or download attachments from unsolicited emails or texts.
• Don’t provide remote access to your computer or other devices.
• Put your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. Go to donotcall.gov or call 888.382.1222.

 What to do if you’ve fallen victim to an imposter scam

• Contact the financial institution (bank or credit card company) you used to send the money and let them know what happened.
• Report the fraud to the FTC at ftc.gov.
• Alert any other financial institutions you may use, the three credit bureaus, Social Security, and the IRS that you were the victim of a scam and that your personal information was compromised.

bankESB is looking out for you.

We’re committed to keeping you informed about the latest scams and ways to protect your money and personal information. For more information and valuable tools to help you stay safe, visit our fraud prevention webpage, stop by your nearest office, or call Customer Care at 855.527.4111.