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Scammers will try to steal your information by pretending that they are a bank employee, or sending emails which look like they came from your bank’s website. Be wary of emails that ask for your account information or PIN, and contact www.refundee.com/hsbc-scam if you already are a victim of a digital scam.
What is a bank scam?
There are many types of scams that can target customers of a bank, including identity theft and fraud. Fraudsters can use fake email or phone numbers to contact people and ask for personal information. These details can then be used by fraudsters to steal money or apply for credit. A bank must always report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.
Fraudsters pretending to be Federal Reserve employees are a common bank scam. These scammers send unsolicited email to the public to try and instill fear into their targets. They say that there is suspicious behavior on their bank accounts, and that they should speak with a Fed worker immediately. The scammers will try to get the person to send them money through Western Union or Money Gram to cover fictitious documents.
Online banking scams
Online banking scams come in many different forms. They can appear as emails, text messages or direct messages that look like those sent by banks. The content of these can range from requests for personal information to urgent warnings about account activity that requires your immediate attention. You may be asked to call a customer support number and be pressed for sensitive information or directed to a website that requires your account details to protect your money. These sites often look like your bank’s site, but if you click any links, malware could be downloaded to your device and record your keystrokes when you enter your username or password.
A typical online banking scam involves a criminal posing as a trusted individual, such as a family member or employer. They may request you to cash a check, or even make a large wire transfer on their behalf. These checks or transfers can bounce. The criminal will then keep your funds as they try to fix the mess. You could be held liable for the entire amount of funds lost if you don’t report the fraud to your bank or the authorities.
There are other ways criminals can gain access to your online bank accounts, in addition to phishing and malware attacks. Criminals can install software on public computers in hotels, airports, or internet cafes to record your keystrokes.
The best way to protect yourself from these online banking scams is to be vigilant and educate yourself about the risks. Never click on any links or share your account details with anyone, ever. You can also prevent these scams by investing into cybersecurity protection.
Phone scams
Phone scams are a common way for criminals steal your money and your personal information. Swindlers use false promises and phony threat to get you to share your bank account, credit card number or other valuables. They may even tricked into allowing them access to your home to take your possessions. Truecaller, an app that blocks calls, claims that Americans lose tens billions of dollars every year due to phone scams.
In some cases, they may impersonate someone you know or a government agency. They might claim that you owe a debt or tax, have won a prize or a lottery jackpot, or need to wire cash immediately. These calls can be very frightening and use high-pressure tactics to make you act fast before thinking critically. They often use fake caller ID and fake names to hide their identity.
Scammers can now imitate human voices, making them almost indistinguishable. Scammers may also spoof numbers on your caller-ID to make them appear as if they are from a legitimate company, such as your telco.
Another common scam is the “grandparent’s scam.” In this case, a caller pretends to be a grandchild and demands that you send money to them immediately. They may also threaten to call law enforcement or have your Social Security and/or credit cards frozen if you don’t comply.
Scammers will often ask you to make payments in a way that makes it difficult to get your money returned, such as putting money on a prepaid debit card or sending a bank wire transfer. If you believe you have been victimized, contact your credit card company or bank right away and request a chargeback.
Text message scams
To avoid a bank scam, the first step is to never click links, respond via text to messages or call phone numbers that banks provide. You should also always use two-factor authentication when logging into your bank accounts. This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring you to enter a code sent to your phone before you can access your account.
In a scam involving text messages, the scammer will ask for your passwords and account information. The scammer will use your passwords or account information to log into your accounts and drain your money. They may also use it to steal your identity or to install malware on your device.
These scams are harder to avoid than ones that come by email or on the phone because of the urgency in a text and the ability for scammers to spoof numbers to make them look legit. Even if the number is familiar, it’s best to err on caution and call the bank to confirm.
Banks have taken steps to educate their clients about these types scams. They also added safety measures, such as requiring their customers to enter an one-time password that is sent to their phones before adding wire transfers payees to the account. However, they do not reimburse customers for their losses in these scams.