Towne Bank of Arizona is pleased to offer Internet Banking services. Use of the Internet, however, can expose you to various scams and attempts to improperly secure personal information from you. In order to protect yourself from such activities and potential financial harm, it is important that you be cautious when providing personal information over the Internet or when responding to unsolicited e-mail. We offer the following tips to help you protect yourself.
Don’t provide personal information or reply to unsolicited e-mail requests. The Internet has become a “tool of choice” for many criminals. They have become very creative in their methods of soliciting personal information, which is then used to steal the victim’s identity and commit financial fraud.
One recent scam was in the form of an e-mail, purportedly sent by the FDIC, which attempted to obtain sensitive personal information – including bank account information. It was, of course, not legitimate. The FDIC does not collect solicit or collect personal information in such a manner.
If you receive unsolicited requests for personal information, don’t respond. Instead, call local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, or the FBI and report it!
Don’t accept checks from strangers. With today’s technology checks can easily be fictitiously created or altered. Even government and bank Cashier’s checks are being counterfeited. If a stranger asks you to cash a check and send them the money – or part of the money – as part of a sale or purchase of goods or otherwise, you are probably being scammed.
Understand your liability for checks you accept. You are ultimately responsible for checks you cash or deposit. Don’t assume that when you cash or deposit a check, and the bank makes the funds available to you, that the check has actually been paid by the issuer’s bank. It can take two or more weeks before payment on a check is final. If the paying bank later determines the check or it’s endorsement was forged or that it was altered in any way, you will be liable for the amount of the check for a period of 3 to 10 years (depending on the state in which the check is drawn).
Use extreme caution when dealing with anyone in a foreign country. Internet based scams with foreign nationals have cost Americans millions of dollars. They quite often deal in the sale or purchase of goods. If you have any questions about strange transactions, contact local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, or the FBI.
Examine your bank statements promptly. Notify us immediately if you find any evidence of forged or altered checks or any other unauthorized charges to your account. If you have a bookkeeper or other person examine your statement, it is important that you examine it as well. Failure to do so can result in losses to you.
Other Tips to avoid being victimized.
Be alert to transactions or offers that seem too good to be true.
Check return e-mail addresses to see if they match the story you’re being given.
If you’re pressured to buy or sell something quickly, chances are it may be fraudulent.
