Consider this: You get an email from a computer antivirus company stating that a $487 subscription fee will be charged to your debit card on file. You don’t remember the purchase, but at first glance the email looks legitimate. It states to call the number below within four hours to cancel. In a panic, you call and an agent from “the company” answers. They can offer a refund and they instruct you to download an application for a transaction reversal. They claim that they sent you money, but sent $4,870 instead of $487. The agent starts to panic, saying they […]
Consumer Alerts
Receive a Text Message About an Overdue Toll Charge? It’s likely a Scam
If you travel New England highways, you’re likely no stranger to road tolls – so if you receive a text message indicating you have unpaid or overdue charges, it may not seem too far-fetched. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning drivers of a recent scam involving fake text messages posing as state toll agencies and collection offices targeting consumers in states across the country. In this recent scam, you may receive a text message indicating you owe unpaid toll charges to a tolling agency. To settle your account, you will be instructed to click on a link and […]
Protect Yourself from Card Skimmers
When you pay for gas, use a vending machine or even self-checkout, it is important to be aware of the threat of card skimmers. What are Card Skimmers? Card skimmers are illegal devices installed on card readers to capture the information stored on the card’s magnetic strip. This information includes your name, card number, expiration date and security (CVV) code. In some cases, the fraudster will also add a microscopic camera or key logging device to capture additional information, such as your personal identification number (PIN) or security code. Where are Card Skimmers Most Likely to be Found? Skimmers are […]
MVSB Customers Receiving Fake Fraud Center Calls
Community members have alerted us that they received a fraudulent text message claiming to be the MVSB Fraud Center. The text asks the recipient to a respond Y or N about a fake transaction. If the person who receives the text happens to be a customer and consequently responds with an N, a scammer calls them and tries to gather confidential information. If you receive a text message like this, please delete it and contact us. To verify your account activity, you can log in to online banking 24×7 or call us during regular hours at 603.279.7986 to check recent […]
Fraudulent Text Messages Appearing to Be from Your Local Bank
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: […]
Business Check Fraud is On the Rise – How Positive Pay Can Help
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 […]
Are you 1 of 560 million people impacted by the Ticketmaster® breach? Here’s what you should do
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 […]
Be Aware of Online Rental Scams
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 […]
Don’t ‘Invest’ in a Scam
The MVSB Fraud Team has reported an increase in fraudulent investment opportunities aimed at local community members. In this scheme, scammers often target individuals through unsolicited emails, social media messages, phone calls, or they may even create online ads or posts on online forums. They will make false promises of high returns and low risk. Watch out for these red flags:Someone claiming to be an investment coach or financial planner that specializes in crypto currency. A solicitor offering a once-in-a-lifetime deal on the purchase of precious metals, including gold, silver or rare coins. They give few details to their secret […]
Did someone pressure you to send them money at a Bitcoin ATM? It’s a scam.
Consider this: You get a call from someone claiming to be with the federal government. They inform you that your bank account has been compromised and you are about to lose all your money if you don’t move it quickly. They are very convincing and, in a panic, you take out your savings in cash. The caller gives you an address nearby that hosts a Bitcoin ATM. They insist that sending the money to them will ensure it is kept safe in a government cryptocurrency account. You enter the code you received into the Bitcoin ATM and insert the […]
