Weather-Related BC Closures
Some of our Banking Centers are temporarily closed due to storm-related power outages. Please visit our Banking Center Storm Recovery page for more information on our available services.
Fraud & Scam Education
STAY ON TOP OF FRAUD AND SCAM TACTICS
Once you know what to look for, spotting fraud is simple. Review our fraud resources to learn what to keep an eye out for.
Scams And Fraud
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the most up to date information on scams and you can subscribe to their mailing list for updates: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts
The FDIC has an article on some of the top consumer scams:
https://www.fdic.gov/consumer-resource-center/2020-10/beware-its-scam
Questions that may mean scam
Criminals have become more sophisticated in using the internet to obtain valid personal information for illegal purposes. Social media, email, message boards, surveys, and fake websites have been used as a means to obtain money, bank account numbers or personal information. Be aware of potential scams to avoid becoming a victim.
Review these ten questions, if you answer YES to any, you may be involved in a scam and should notify Banking Center personnel immediately.
- Has anyone asked you to provide them with your online banking log-in credentials?
- Did you respond to a request asking you to confirm, update, or provide your bank account information?
- Have you been instructed to purchase gift cards at a big box or chain store?
- Have you been instructed to submit a payment via a money movement app to a person or business that you do not know?
- Have you received money via a check or electronic transfer for more than expected and been asked to send the excess back?
- Have you met someone online who is requesting financial assistance or asking you to deposit a check for them into your account?
- Have you responded to a pop-up on your computer or a phone call claiming that your computer has been compromised?
- Have you responded to a job offer that you replied to online and been instructed to send money for start-up costs such as advertising or secret shopping?
- Have you been instructed not to inform anyone, including your bank, about doing a transaction on your bank account?
- Have you received an emergency phone call regarding a family member being in big trouble and needed money sent immediately?
Latest Scams
Phone calls claiming to be computer techs associated with well-known companies like Microsoft or Apple, or pop-up messages that warn about computer problems are signs of a tech support scam. They create a sense of urgency by saying viruses or other problems with your computer have been reported. These scams can also claim to offer a refund for tech services or software. Under the guise of "tech support", they will ask you to give them remote access to your computer and may even ask you to log into Online Banking. Eventually, they’ll diagnose a non-existent problem and ask you to pay for unnecessary – or even harmful – services.
If you get an unexpected pop-up, call, spam email or other urgent message about problems with your computer, stop. Don’t click on any links, don’t give control of your computer and don’t send any money. You can report it to https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
For victims of these scams, take your computer to a professional to have it evaluated and cleaned of malicious software. Change your Online Banking User ID and password, and any other passwords entered from that computer. You can find more information about Tech Support Scams on the FTC website at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams
Fake checks drive many types of scams and are very active in our community. There are many variations to be aware of including those involving phony prize wins, fake jobs, mystery shoppers, online classified ad sales, and others. In a fake check scam, someone asks you to deposit a check, and when the funds seem to be available, wire the money to another bank. Unfortunately, when the bad check is returned to the bank, the scammer already has the money, and you’re stuck paying the money back to the bank.
There are ways to protect yourself from these scams and education is a great start. Learn more from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0159-fake-checks
There has been an increase in cash advance scams, where the victim receives phone calls coming from a scammer pretending to be from a legitimate cash advance company. The scammer attempts to gain access to your account by asking you to give remote access to your computer and log into Online Banking. They claim to need this information to credit the proceeds from the loan to your account.
If you get an unexpected call from a cash advance company, don't follow their instructions to get control of your computer and don't send any money.
Phishing
Phishing refers to fake emails pretending to come from someone you trust or a subject you're interested in, all with the goal of luring you into opening the message and taking action. This might include clicking on a link, opening an attachment, or making a fraudulent purchase. This attack is not limited to email, it can be performed through a text message or via direct message on various apps. The criminals sending these messages are trying to steal information, commit fraud, or spy on your computer or mobile device.
email Phishing
If you receive an email, pop-up message, or any type of electronic request soliciting personal account or password information, NEVER follow the link or reply to the text message and provide the requested information.
Peoples Bank would never contact a customer online to ask for confidential information or confirm information we already have on file. If you receive a suspicious email or text claiming to be from Peoples Bank, please inform us immediately at 866-301-8660 or contact your local Banking Center.
You should also report suspicious activity or email communications to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Send the actual email you received to spam@uce.gov. If you believe your information has been compromised, learn how to report the fraud in order to fully resolve the issue.
Phishing (P2P Payment Apps)
Beware of text messages from someone claiming to be Peoples Bank saying your Zelle® or mobile payment app account has been hacked. The scammer may ask you to send money to a new account they've created for you, but that's a scam! Also, Peoples Bank will never ask you to send money to your own email or mobile number, or even to Peoples Bank. Be sure to only pay recipients you trust, especially if you just added them to your app. Remember that scammers use urgency to get you to send money, so be wary anytime someone wants you to act now.
Account Fraud
- Do not open or respond to online solicitations for personal information. Peoples Bank will never send an email containing attachments or require customers to send personal information via email or pop-up windows.
- Do not be intimidated by emails requesting information immediately in order to prevent account closure. Any communications requesting immediate response should be treated as suspect.
- Review your credit report annually. A free copy of your credit report is available at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
- Shred financial or personal documents before discarding.
- Utilize Online Banking regularly to monitor your account activity and quickly detect any fraudulent transactions.
- Safeguard Online Banking User ID and password. Do not share with anyone.
- Pay bills online with Free Online Bill Payment. The fewer personal documents sent through the mail and less sites you’re sharing your information with, the less chance there is for possible fraud.
- Always put outgoing mail in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox, which is more secure than your home mailbox and collect your mail promptly each day.
- If you feel your personal or financial information has been compromised, contact your local Banking Center immediately.
Report Fraud
If you suspect someone is contacting you with fraudulent intentions, report it to the Federal Trade Commision to protect yourself and others.
Data Breaches
Data breaches are more common now than ever before. After these unfortunate events happen, most folks want to know what to do.
The first step is understanding if you have been impacted and what information has been compromised. Depending on the impact, there are a variety of steps you can take to protect yourself after a data breach.
Check your bank account activity frequently. At Peoples Bank, your security is our top priority. We encourage you to monitor your accounts through Online and Mobile Banking. Additionally, we offer account alerts that allow you to receive emails or text messages regarding activity on your account. Click here to enroll or contact your local Banking Center for more information.