Online Fraud – Internet Schemes & Scams

In today's world of computers Internet Fraud is growing with each day and as a customer of FNB South we feel that you need to be aware of the different types of fraud that can occur. These schemes utilize such things as chat rooms, email messages, or fake websites to deceive and take advantage of the computer's abilities to access information quickly and easily.

****FRAUD ACTIVITY ALERT****

FNB South has received an increasing number of reports of phishing scam activity. These scams consist of calls to cardholders in an attempt to gain access to account information. During these calls cardholders are informed that their debit card has been deactivated and needs to be reactivated. The cardholder is then asked to provide key account information such as account numbers and expiration dates in order to re-activate the affected debit card. This type of fraudulent activity often increases during the holiday season. If you have any concerns, please contact your local branch office.

FNB South Customer Awareness Program - CLICK HERE

 

Phishing

Phishing is an email that appears to come from a trusted source such as your bank or a government agency and once opened will redirect you to another website. Once there the website will ask for verification of personal information such as your name, account number at the bank, social security number, credit card number and/or passwords. These sites usually look identical to the website they are imitating.

Defense Against Phishing

Always remember that your bank, government agency or credit card company will never send an email to verify information on your account. If you happen to receive an email stating that your account will be shut down unless you confirm the information they ask for DO NOT click on the email link. If you do you will be redirected to another website that will capture your personal information and the crooks can then access your accounts.

Before submitting any financial information to a legitimate website, always look for the "lock" icon on the bottom of the web page on the browser status bar and look for the "https" in the web address. Both are signs that the information is secure and encrypted during any transmission.

Report any type of suspicious activity to either the company that the email came from or to the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center.

Spoofing

Spoofing is creating a "shadow copy" of a legitimate website. The phony website is monitored through the crooks computer and all activities including passwords and account numbers can be captured. In spoofing an attacker can gain unauthorized access to a computer or network by making it appear that a malicious message has come from a trusted machine by imitating the web address.

Be wary of all unsolicited or unexpected emails and treat them as you would a phishing email.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is an ever growing problem and not only on the internet. Once your social security number or an account number has been taken a criminal can use them to access your account, make a loan in your name, access credit card information or a number of other things that can ruin your credit and take years to get cleared from your credit reports. These can be obtained from the "spoofing and phishing" or they can be obtained from your trash. After your garbage leaves your home it is no longer personal property. It becomes public information for anyone to access. Always shred any checks, bills or statements of any kind before discarding.

General Tips Against Cyber Fraud

Always be careful of website or emails. Criminals can make them look just as impressive or professional as the real ones.

Be careful about giving out personal information online. Always question an email asking for personal data. Secure transactions on ecommerce site should be safe when using your credit card, but non-secure messages to both known and unknown recipients are not safe.

Be wary of emails concealing their true identity. If someone sends you an email using a mail header that has no useful identifying data (i.e. W6T7S8@provider.com), that may be an indication that the person is hiding something and it is not a legitimate email or website.

Always review your credit card and bank statements as soon as your receive them to make sure there are no unauthorized transactions or charges present. If you do not receive your credit card or bank statement on or about the regular time during the month, always call to verify that the mailing address has not been changed.

Look carefully at any online sellers of goods or services that want you to send checks or money orders immediately to a post office box before you receive the goods or services you've been promised.

Always use common sense. If something looks too good to be true it usually is. If you are unsure always verify by calling the company BEFORE sending any information to them.

Consumer Resources

The consumer information listed below is provided to assist in locating information and providing guidance on how to file complaints when appropriate.

  • To Report a Lost or Stolen FNB South Debit/ATM Card, Please Call 1-800-264-5578
  • FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION CONSUMER RESPONSE CENTER
    www.ftc.gov
    Phone: 877-382-4357
  • INTERNET FRAUD COMPLIANT CENTER (IFCC)
    www.ic3.gov
  • CONSUMER FRAUD (DOJ/HOMEPAGE)
    www.usdoj.gov or www.consumer.gov
  • FIRSTGOV
    www.firstgov.gov gives free access to information on local, state and US Government agencies.
    Phone: 1-800-333-4636
  • SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
    www.ssa.gov
    Or to report fraud 800-269-0271
  • IDENTITY THEFT RESOURCE CENTER
    www.idtheftcenter.org
    Phone: 858-693-7935