Consumer Alerts

Community members are once again reporting fraudulent text messages claiming to be from local banks. While we are not aware that MVSB customers have been impacted at this time, it’s not uncommon scammers to move on to other area banks as the effectiveness of their scheme begins to dwindle. In this recent scam, the text message asks the recipient to confirm a large transaction attempt on their bank account. To report the transaction as fraud, the recipient must click on a link bringing them to a fake webpage that prompts them to provide their online banking username and password. Remember: […]

Check washing is a type of fraud that occurs when a stolen check is treated with a chemical formula to remove its ink or “wash the check.” Then the check is rewritten with a higher amount, addressed to a new payee, and deposited. In most cases, checks are stolen from the mail before they are washed and rewritten.  As several local businesses have let us know that they have been victimized, we want to remind local businesses that one option to protect your company from check fraud is to use Positive Pay. Positive Pay is a popular automated cash service […]

Live Nation Entertainment® is investigating a data breach at its subsidiary, global concert and event ticket provider, Ticketmaster®. The breach could impact as many as 560 million of their customers, who will now be at risk of fraud and identity theft due to a massive breach of their data systems. Hackers obtained full names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, event details, order information and payment card information, including the last four digits of the debit or credit card number and expiration date. Information stolen in largescale data breaches like this one is often sold and used by criminals to commit […]

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning about online rental scams to those looking for a place to live or vacation. Finding an apartment or house that is affordable and available to rent can often be a challenge. Scammers take advantage of this by creating fake online rental listings and posing as the landlord or rental company. To add legitimacy, they may copy information and photos from existing rental listings or use an appealing property address that is not actually for rent. To avoid this scam:Be skeptical of unusually low rent – scammers may use a price that […]

Your banker may ask you a few questions in confidence in an effort to keep you and all of our customers safe. Always remember, if you are being pressured to send money or to lie to your banker or the police about the circumstances, it is a scam. Cybercriminals are targeting local people and businesses with convincing and sophisticated schemes, and the best way to keep money out of the hands of a scammer is to stop the fraud before any money is sent. If you ever feel you may have fallen victim, please let us know right away. You […]

Local residents are receiving calls from fraudsters posing as bank employees asking for online banking, account and debit card information or to verify fake charges. If you are contacted asking for information about your MVSB accounts, please do not respond and call us directly for assistance. Communications from fraudsters can be convincing and they may even “spoof” the caller ID to appear as though the call is from a local bank number. Be wary of communication you aren’t expecting and remember, we will not ask for sensitive information via phone, email or text unless you have contacted us for support. […]