Our Fraud Team has reported an increase in individuals across the country receiving text messages indicating they have unpaid or overdue toll charges. These messages are a scam and recipients should ignore and delete them. If you are unsure and want to verify, reach out to the state’s tolling agency directly using a legitimate phone number or website, not the contact info provided in the text. The text will offer a way to settle your account, and you will be instructed to click on a link and provide payment information. The fraudster likely will imply a sense of urgency to […]
Consumer Alerts
Don’t Fall for an Imposter Scam
Imposter scams accounted for more than one third of all reported fraud in New Hampshire in 2024, according to reports by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This amounted to 3,083 out of 8,838 fraud reports, with nearly $35 million lost to fraudsters altogether. With imposters on the rise not only in New Hampshire but throughout the country, its important to stay vigilant, understand how the scam works and steps to take to avoid becoming a victim. Imposter scam tactics may vary slightly in appearance, but they all boil down to one thing – scammers pretending to be someone else in […]
Home Sweet Hoax: Mortgage Relief Scams on the Rise
A recent update from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) indicates an alarming uptick in mortgage relief scams targeting consumers across the US. Victims report being contacted by phone and coerced into providing payment or account information urgently to avoid foreclosure on their home. Scammers typically pose as their home mortgage company or bank, often spoofing (or altering) the Caller ID information to appear as though the call is from their actual mortgage provider. How do scammers know where you financed your home? Mortgage information is often publicly available in county records and can be easily searched and located online. This […]
Local Customers Receiving Fake Fraud Texts Followed by Phone Calls
The MVSB Fraud Center will never ask you for your login information, your debit card number or other protected information. Some of our customers have let us know that they received text messages from criminals posing as our Fraud Center. The fraudsters ask about a specific transaction and as for a yes or no response. Shortly after the customer responds “no”, the criminal calls them and tries to get their online banking login and password, debit card information, account details or other protected information. If you receive this text message, please delete it and let us know by calling 603.279.7986. […]
Suspicious That Something Could be Fraud? We Are Here to Help
It sometimes can be difficult to know what to do if you are targeted by a scammer. This uncertainty and even feelings of embarrassment from falling victim to fraud often leads to underreporting of incidents and further financial damage. The good news? We are here to help. Our local bankers and fraud professionals are trained to identify scams and assist you with protecting your accounts and identity. No shaming here – only dedicated professionals with your best interest at heart. And our knowledge and awareness of the techniques that scammers are currently using helps up protect other individuals who may […]
Stay Alert When Buying from Online Marketplaces
Consider this: You are shopping on Facebook marketplace and come across a high-end gaming console for only $250, well below the $500 retail value. You reach out to the seller, and they explain that it was recently purchased, but they need to sell some things to prepare to relocate. Then the seller explains that they are in another state at the moment but would be happy to ship it. They are getting lots of inquiries so it is best to move quickly if you want it. They ask for the $250 via a payment app and explain that they will […]
True Love Doesn’t Come with Strings Attached
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day with flowers and chocolates, remember that not all roses are without thorns. According to the Federal Trade Commission, millions of people fall victim to online romance scams each year – and they can be some of the most emotionally and financially devastating. Fraudsters easily use stolen and artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images to create online dating or social media profiles of celebrities, doctors, military personnel and more. They spark up virtual relationships, quickly putting themselves in a position to ask for money and pull at the heartstrings of their targets. Some romance scammers converse with their […]
Customers Receiving Fake Fraud Alerts
Our fraud mitigation team has received several phone calls today from customers who are receiving scam texts stating “Unusual Sign In Detected.” The message askes the recipient to respond YES or NO. If a response is sent, the customer then receives a phone call from a fraudster who will try to gather personal information such as online banking user names and passwords, text codes to change your online banking password or other personal information, such as account numbers, social security numbers, etc. Remember: Even if a call or text looks like it’s coming from your bank, it may be a […]
Your ‘Secret Santa’ Could Be a Scammer
You might be excited to receive a surprise package in the mail during the holidays and wonder ‘who could it possibly be from?’ But if you weren’t expecting it and there is no return address, it’s likely a scam. Third party online retailers and scammers use “brushing” schemes for a variety of reasons, many of which can put your personal information at risk. They always begin the same way: sending random recipients a small item by mail with no return address. You might receive a pack of seeds, an electronic device, a piece of jewelry, a household item or something […]
Warning Signs for Email and Social Media Compromise
Were you suddenly locked out of your email or social media accounts? Or has one of your contacts let you know they received an unusual message or friend request from you? These red flags often indicate one or more of your online accounts have been compromised. Taking quick action to regain access and change your usernames and passwords may allow you to recover access and most online services offer instructions to help. Click here for resources and links from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If you haven’t already, enable any optional authentication tools, such as one-time passcodes and login alerts. […]
