Common Schemes

Fraudulent Travelers Checks or Cashiers Checks

There has been a recent increase in fraudulent travelers and cashiers checks.  The criminal usually creates false travelers checks or cashiers checks and sends them to their victim with a letter instructing the victim to deposit the fraudulent checks and then return a portion of the funds back to the sender, either by wire or money grams.  After the victim sends the funds, the checks start coming back through their account and they end up losing money.

Lottery Scams

Originating in Nigeria, lottery scams are now coming from several parts of the world.  Some other notorious lottery scams originate in Canada and South Africa as well.  These scams include a letter that explains the victim has won the lottery or a sweepstakes.  The letter is usually accompanied with a cashier’s check made out to the victim’s name for a certain amount.  The letter will instruct the victim to deposit the check and then wire funds back for ‘taxes’. 

Fraudulent Emails or Phone Calls (Phishing)

In this case, the criminal may send an email or call a victim claiming to be from their bank and request account or personal information for various reasons.  (See below for examples).

Inheritance Scams

Another popular scheme often sent from Nigeria, inheritance scams are also becoming more popular.  Usually sent by mail or email, the criminal explains that someone has deceased and you are the only inheritance.  The amounts can vary but are usually fairly large.  They then request that you send them your account information so they can wire the money from the inheritance to you.

 

If you receive any of these items in the mail or receive something similar, please consult with a personal banker at one of our locations before you proceed with depositing the funds or following the directions.  Our mission is to protect you!

 

TIPS FOR AVOIDING FRAUD

1. Always consult with a bank employee before depositing an item you received in the mail if you are unfamiliar with the business or individual
2. Never give out your account information through email
3. Never give out your account information over the phone unless you initiated the conversation
4. Don’t pay for a ‘free prize’.  If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating the law.
5. When dealing with fraud - “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”.

Additional Resources

FBI Fraud Schemes
FakeChecks.org
BankersOnline.com

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"Phishing" (or "Pharming")

Note: Don't trust an email simply because it looks like it came from a trusted source. Thieves often disguise their emails to look like bank websites or online businesses. They use logos and graphics to look trustworthy. Links in emails may point to websites that are not "official," no matter how real they seem.

One way to avoid getting scammed is to ignore the link in the email, and type in the webpage address directly. Also, don't submit any confidential information online. Citizens Bank of Edmond will NOT ask you to verify credit card numbers, social security numbers, checkbook numbers, etc. via email. If we did need to verify confidential information, we would ask you to visit a branch.

If you receive a phone call requesting confidential information, you should verify the identity of the person calling. Find the phone number in your phone book, and call the person back using a number you can trust.

Samples of possible Phishing/Pharming attempts:

A Phishing email link may open up the actual bank website, but open up a smaller window from another website. In the Pharming example below, you see the main window has the correct bank website, but the smaller window does not show the address. By seeing the two windows, a customer might feel confident about the website and enter their personal information into the second window - and leave themselves open to fraud.

 

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Email may contain official logos, links to real websites, and even content that was copied from official websites. But you should be cautious - they may still be Phishing attempts. Be cautious of poor spelling or grammar. Don't trust links in an email; they may point to a different website than the address shown.